Philoxenia
Love of the foreign or stranger is a literal translation of the Greek word for hospitality, philoxenia, which is a virtue demonstrated throughout Greek mythology and history. It is so strong, it is reliably present in the beautiful stories of the great Greek heroes. Odysseus several times depends on the virtue of his hosts during his travels, even when his identity is unknown. The dinner table can be trusted not to have been poisoned, the sleeping accommodations safe and comfortable; the relationship is one of gifting, acceptance, responsibility, and honor.
Telemachus receives a guest whom he gives a royal welcome, offering comfort before knowing his identity or his journey to the shores of Ithaca. He does not know that it is Athena herself in disguise, in an episode similar to Abraham hosting the angels without knowing they were heavenly messengers from God. Athena has the appearance of an old man, but Telemachus brings the individual into the house and arranges comfort and dinner before inquiring after the identity of the stranger or the purpose of the visit. He was even distraught that the visitor was kept waiting at the gate while the household was occupied with other duties. Telemachus demonstrates proper greeting: offer bath, food, and wine to allow refreshment before any questions are asked.
Penelope has a tricky role to play to both respect the host guest relationship and dissuade, or more realistically delay, her many suitors. The suitors make demands, insult the character of Odysseus by vying for her remarriage, abuse their rights as guests by staying for years feasting and drinking from the palace’s resources, and even devise plans to kill Telemachus. Penelope despises their attitudes and actions, yet remains honorable as host. Even as the servants protest, Penelope ensures that the household respects the rules of hospitality with food and wine. Her cunning is employed in strategies to grant comfort to her guests while not compromising to their demands of picking a new husband to replace Odysseus. When she at last greets Odysseus, he is in disguise as an old beggar; yet she apologizes for his treatment by the other guests and ensures his comfort.
The role of Odysseus is rather guest throughout the epic, but he still serves as a model of the host guest relationship. Several times he implores his sailors to respect their hosts, reiterating proper guest behavior. Each time they land to replenish resources, they rush to slaughter livestock, or allow themselves to become stupefied by drugs, lotuses, or women. Several episodes of trouble are caused by their impulsive disrespect of the host guest relationship, reacting to their physical needs before proper greetings and honor are given. Disrespect also happens from hosts, especially Calypso, who keeps Odysseus prisoner even as he weeps for his home on the beach each day. The gods take pity on Odysseus and intercede, the reason articulated as this is not Odysseus’ destiny, but the reader can see that Athena has plans for her hero that are reinforced by his respect for his hosts. It is when he is guided by Athena to be humbly respectful as a guest to Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians who have a reputation of being hostile to strangers, that Odysseus’ journey takes him swiftly home.
Those who honor this host guest relationship through hardship are ultimately vindicated; those who disrespect it are stumbling blocks or are even served vengeance such as when Odysseus returns home.
The relationship of the host and guest can nicely inform the relationship of the philosopher and interlocutor in philosophical practice. Just as the host offers essentials for basic necessities, the philosopher offers the tools to live life. While the philosopher is at home in humanity as a human being himself, he plays the role of stranger to humanness, asking questions to explore aspects of being human. Respecting the rituals of greetings, accepting offers of tea or wine, the philosopher and the interlocutor first establish an atmosphere of safety. Only once trust is built, can open exploration in dialogue take place. Indeed, respect for the host guest relationship can even create dialogue opportunities from chance encounters or routine interactions. No philosopher truly interested in humanity keeps his interest within the confines of the classroom or library; thus, he plays guest and is rewarded with inspiration, interlocutors, and ideas.