Heb je nog iets op je lever?

Abstract

Abstract Anything on your mind? Ancient Greece as an uncertainty societyThis article outlines a number of issues specific to uncertainty management in the ancient Greek world (c. 800 BC ‐ c. 150 BC) and the modern Western world ‐ and juxtaposes the two where suitable, illuminating a number of aspects peculiar to Greek divination. The ancient Greek turned towards his gods for qualitative data: perceived signs from the supernatural. These signs were sought on both private and public matters; they were then interpreted in order to obtain information. The individual had to take these interpretations seriously. The ancient Greeks lived in an uncertainty society ‐ or perhaps even in a divination society. Divination was a culturally specific way to reduce uncertainty and allowed individuals to analyze and, where possible, manage or direct their own future.