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Honour may seem like a niche concept, confined to specific historical contexts. The HCG research team, however, argued that honour (Greek timê) is a universal mechanism that shapes all human interactions, even today.
“It’s not just about receiving admiration,” explains Douglas Cairns, professor of Classics at the University of Edinburgh and principal investigator. “It’s about mutual respect and recognition. Honour is a deeply relational phenomenon, present in every interaction, whether through an informal chat or in political discourse.”
The project, which was funded by the European Research Council (ERC), also addressed significant gaps in academic research, which often confined honour to certain social strata or specific gendered roles. Instead, it demonstrated that honour is found in all forms of social interaction – it is there in every situation in which we show or seek respect, in every context in which we express our esteem or seek the esteem of others. From giving up your seat on the bus, to being polite to shopkeepers.
A fresh take on timê
From Aristotle’s reflections on social interaction to contemporary debates about ethics, the research revealed the timeless significance of honour in negotiating identity and agency. This expansive view allowed the project to explore honour not as an isolated concept but as a dynamic force shaping human behaviour – a universal phenomenon present from ancient Greek texts to modern debates on leadership, social inequality and cultural identity.
The team drew on cognitive psychology, political theory and sociology to explore how people negotiate recognition across cultures and eras. This broad framework allowed the researchers to examine honour as both a personal and a collective force.
The project also explored the ancient concept of hubris. Bridging ancient and modern contexts, it highlighted how hubris continues to shape political, business and social dynamics. In fact, the term is often applied to the changing fortunes of today’s political figures as their careers rise and fall.
“Hubris illustrates the relational aspect of honour so well,” Cairns says. “It’s not just about arrogance, it’s about the imbalance between how you see yourself and how you regard others. This concept resonates today, especially in the realms of politics and business.”
The project also made surprising discoveries. One researcher uncovered how even in ancient Greek domestic comedies, figures such as women, children and slaves actively participated in what Cairns calls an “economy of honour”. These insights challenged the perception that honour was confined to public, high-status actions.
A universal language of respect
Honour, along with related ideas such as respect and esteem, still play an important role in modern life. The project compared different societies, from ancient Greece to China, and found that the desire for respect is a basic part of human interaction across all cultures and social statuses. We see this today in how people communicate, whether through emails or face-to-face conversations. Respect influences all kinds of relationships, including those shaped by gender and race.
The project also faced resistance to the fixed idea that honour is only about being admired. But HCG’s research shows it’s much more than that – it’s about how we give and receive respect. This common misunderstanding, even in today’s conversations, highlights how often honour is misinterpreted and just how relevant it remains to modern society.
Honour as a timeless concept
Thanks to its success, HCG has inspired follow-up research that is already under way. Focused on class struggles in ancient Greek democracies, a new project funded by the European Research Council and UK Research and Innovation builds directly on HCG’s findings.
The project redefined honour as a fundamental and enduring concept. “Honour is bigger than people think,” Cairns concludes. “It permeates all aspects of society, from individual relationships to the broader structures that define how we live today.”