Barbarian - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Barbarian: a label, a judgment, and a mirror reflecting the anxieties of civilizations throughout history, designating those perceived as "other," uncivilized, or primitive, yet simultaneously hinting at untapped strengths and alternative ways of life. The term, often used interchangeably with "savage" or "uncouth," invites a reevaluation of its inherent biases and historical context.
The earliest explicit uses of the term "barbarian" appear in ancient Greece, around the 5th century BCE. Derived from "barbaros," it originally described those whose speech sounded like nonsensical "bar-bar-bar" noises to Greek ears, marking a linguistic distinction that soon expanded to encompass cultural differences. Herodotus, the "father of history," frequently employed the term in The Histories (c. 440 BCE) to differentiate Greeks from Persians, Egyptians, and other non-Greek peoples. The great philosopher Aristotle elaborates further on the concept of barbaros in his work Politics, suggesting that non-Greeks were naturally suited to be ruled by Greeks, thus providing a philosophical justification for Greek superiority and expansion. This era saw the rise of city-states, democratic ideals (albeit limited), and philosophical inquiry, yet also the genesis of a divisive "us vs. them" mentality, using the term barbarian to reinforce a sense of Greek identity and civilization with respect to others.
Over centuries, the meaning of "barbarian" continued to evolve, depending on who was wielding the term and against whom. The Romans adopted it to describe the Germanic tribes, Gauls, and other groups challenging their empire's borders. Historians like Tacitus, in Germania (98 CE), while critical of Roman decadence, also painted a picture of Germanic peoples as fierce, uncorrupted, and possessing a virtue that civilized society had lost. During the Middle Ages, the term was often applied to Vikings, Magyars, and other groups that raided and pillaged settled communities. Intriguingly, periods of intense philosophical thought, such as the rise of existentialism, often coincide with or are preceded by re-evaluations of societal "norms" and the questioning of what true "civilization" entails, implicitly challenging the barbarian's perceived inferiority regarding moral reasoning. Some philosophical arguments support a view that the attributes once assigned to "barbarians" (e.g., primal instinct, lack of moral complexity) are actually intrinsic to humanity itself, posing a thought experiment on free will. Ethical paradoxes are often employed in these arguments.
The legacy of the "barbarian" persists in modern language and culture, appearing in film, literature, and video games, often embodying both a threat to established order and a symbol of raw potential. The term serves as a reminder of how easily societies can construct identities based on difference and how those categorizations can justify prejudice and oppression. What does it mean to be civilized, and who gets to decide? The concept of the barbarian urges us to confront our biases and critically examine the foundations upon which civilizations are built. Through this, the term "barbarian" continues to function as a critical tool for exploring the boundaries of humanity and the nature of ethics.