Zeus's Law: What The Odyssey Gets Right—and Wrong
Summary
Richard Epstein and Charles C. W. Koch discuss Christopher Nolan’s *The Odyssey*, debating its massive scale versus intimate detail and the moral implications of "Zeus is law." They explore whether the film’s Christianized portrayal of Odysseus is a valid adaptation or a departure from the classical source. The conversation also touches on Emily Wilson’s accessible translation and contrasts Greek and Roman legal systems, noting that while Roman law is highly codified, general moral intuitions remain consistent across both cultures.
Topics discussed
Introduction and how Richard Epstein saw the movie
Comparing the Odyssey and Iliad as literary works
Analyzing 'Zeus is Law' and the concept of virtue
Critique of the film's scale, realism, and spectacle
Discussion on fidelity to Homer and modern adaptations
Review of Emily Wilson's 2017 translation
Aesthetic preferences: Rubens vs. Vermeer and trade-offs
The value of aesthetic debate and dialogue
Differences between Greek and Roman legal systems
The disconnect between classical scholars and law
Ordinary language, implied terms, and legal theory
Closing remarks
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