“I was born to share in love, not hatred.” So says Antigone, standing in defiance of her king, her city, and the rules of her world, all because she dared to bury her brother.
“Go down below and love, if love you must—love the dead! While I’m alive, no woman will rule me.” goes Creon’s furious reply, drawing the line not just between life and death, but between obedience and defiance, man and woman, ruler and rebel.
This month at LexSophia, we're turning our philosophical spotlight on Antigone, that ancient Greek sister who wouldn’t take “no burial” for an answer. Her story pits personal conviction against public order, family duty against state law, and sparks a fire that’s been smoldering for over two thousand years.
We'll be guided in part by Hegel, the German philosopher who saw Antigone not just as a rebellious sister, but as something more mysterious: the "eternal irony of the community." What did he mean by that? In short: Hegel thought women, especially sisters, embodied an intuitive, love-driven ethics rooted in family, the kind that doesn’t care much for rules, but sure knows how to throw a wrench in a kingdom. To him, Antigone wasn’t just right, she was inevitable. A walking contradiction that society both needs and cannot handle.
Of course, modern thinkers (especially the feminist ones) are not letting that idea sit quietly. They see Antigone not just as a beautiful soul crushed by patriarchy, but maybe as its challenger, too.
So come join the conversation as we explore how ethics, gender, family, and justice clash in the oldest sibling drama of them all. You don’t need to know Greek tragedy—or Hegel thankfully—to join us. Just bring your brain, your heart, snacks if you want, and your best sibling story.
Where: Bingham Davis House, University of Kentucky Campus
When: Friday, April 26th at 3:00 PM
Why: Because some rules are made to be broken—and some sisters are not to be messed with.
