Mary Lefkowitz, Wellesley College, will address the topic “Learning from Myth: The Case of the Trojan Horse”.
The legend of the Trojan horse may not be what we would now call history, but it still has much to teach us about why people often make bad decisions. Ancient writers’ descriptions of the Trojans’ terrible choice have close parallels in modern psychological theory. As recent political events confirm, there is no safety in numbers. Like individuals, large groups often fail to act in their own best interests.