Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, cilt.2, sa.12, ss.98-103, 2012 (Hakemli Dergi)
Irony and the Authenticity of Existence in the works of Lucian of Samosata: Besides all other aspects, irony
has also a power that puts forth authenticity by ironising and rasping the weak, artificial and imperfect sides of
life. In Lucian, irony, in addition to being a way of discourse, is also a method of eliminating and sorting. By the
method of ironic denial, he examines the true values of time, daily passions, ambitions of men, and types of living,
thinking and believing men have. However, as soon as we set sail towards nihilism, we start denying everything.
Lucian’s works also display nihilistic tendencies in patches. At this level, his ironic denial is at a turnout; while it
can be evaluated as a method to sort existence from its features that artificialize it, it is also possible to consider
it as a beginning for the road to nihilism. Unfortunately, taking one of these routes will require dismissing the
other. Carrying Lucian’s method of ironic denial forward in one of these routes rests with our own interpretation.
In this study, we will take Lucian’s ironic denial not as a nihilising attitude but as a sorting method and will try to
develop this approach towards the authenticity of existence. We can infer the authentic values of existence from
the texts of Lucian. In this respect, the value to be put-forth first is freedom. Freedom is not being enslaved to the
wealth of the world, not being shackled by one’s ambitions and passions, and not leaving the courage to live
against the fear of death. In order for one to be able to get close to the authentic phase of life, one should discover
transience and mortality in ones being. Wisdom, not as a babbling or fallacy but as a type of living and thinking
that maturates the person and gives the authentic values of his own existence to himself, involves in the authentic
phase of existence. Justice, austerity, gaiety, candidness, outspokenness and the like attitudes are also within the
group of values that constitute the authentic phase of existence. Opposite the authentic values, there are attitudes
that artificialize existence. Unauthenticity of existence is brought out by putting wealth, pleasure, babbling, and
fallacy as the objective of life. In order to turn towards the authentic phase of existence, human beings tend to
artificialize and ward it off from its base. Reality of death is usually ignored in this circle of artificialised
existence. They would not shy away from enslaving others for their own concerns, pleasures and entertainment
and turning them into means from individuals. During their journey in the world, they roam with the dream of a
brilliant future, huge wealth, great happiness and gigantic entertainment within the possibilities that they might
meet. By aiming his ironic arrows at people living such an unauthentic life, Lucian puts forth judgements and
expressions about this worldly life not only from the point of living creatures but also from the point of the dead
and superhuman beings; he gives an opportunity for us to think over the meaning and value of life against death.