Xenophon’s Theory of Moral Education

Xenophon the Athenian, who is well known both as a historian and as a witness of Socratic philosophy, developed his own systematic thought on moral education from a social and mainly political perspective in his extant works. His discourse on moral education represents the view of an unusual historical figure; an innovative thinker, as well as a man of action, a mercenary general and a world citizen in his age. As such, it is therefore different from the discourse of contemporary pure philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle. Furthermore, as a prolific author respected in both the classical world and the early modern era, Xenophon’s doctrine on moral education has had an extensive influence on the later development of European cultural history.

This work explores the background and content of Xenophon’s thought on moral education, as well as its application in his literary composition. The analysis of these themes confirms that Xenophon actually established a theory of moral education in his extant corpus. On the one hand, his theory is less profound than that of Plato or Aristotle, but, on the other, it is original and innovative, and has been influential in the history of classical literature, and therefore deserves both serious investigation and our respect.


Houliang Lu received his PhD in Classics from the University of Edinburgh in July, 2014. He currently works at the Institute of World History in the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as a Research Assistant. His recent publications include “Herodotus’ History of Persia and How It Shaped the Intellectual Elite’s View of Persia in Ancient Greece” in Historical Research (2014), and “Ephebic Tradition in the Classical Athens” in World History (2014) (both in Chinese).

"This volume is a welcome addition to the recent trend in modern scholarship ... which identifies a consistent moral and political outlook throughout Xenophon's large and very diverse body of work. L. applies this approach to Xenophon’s theory of moral education and demonstrates that he offered an original and innovative programme not only in the Cyropaedia, where one would expect it, but also in his other extant works. L. therefore provides a timely and salutary corrective to H.-I. Marrou's dismissal of Xenophon as a marginal and unimportant figure."

Frances Pownall University of Alberta The Classical Review 66: 1 (2016)

"Houliang Lu has focused in his dissertation on the concept of moral education in Xenophon’s works, thus also taking that author’s economic writings into consideration.4 Though interpreting the relevant passages in a rather Finley-oriented view, he successfully shows that Xenophon bases his ideal leadership not only on the elite level but by having in mind a strict hierarchical structure, seeks to pass through the highest moral standards of that leadership, which everyone is able to achieve, to the lower levels, thus creating a harmonized society."

Sven Günther Northeast Normal University Journal of Ancient Civilizations, 32:1 (2017)

Buy This Book

ISBN: 1-4438-6880-9

ISBN13: 978-1-4438-6880-8

Release Date: 24th November 2014

Pages: 250

Price: £47.99

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