Hospitality in Homer’s Odyssey: the duty and virtue of hosts (countries and individuals) and of guests (immigrants and refugees)

Abstract

The recent 2020 report by the International Organization for Migration states that about 3.5% of the world’s population is living as (im)migrants. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 84 million individuals have been forcibly displaced and are living as refugees. We note that these immigrants and refugees are not always welcomed by individuals and nations – that is, they are not met with hospitality. In this article, we discuss the concept of hospitality by resorting to Homer’s Odyssey, in which Ulysses journeys home, being met with hospitality sometimes and hostility other times. First, we discuss the power of myths and metaphors, and their importance for helping us understand important matters, such as hospitality. Second, we refer to three passages in Homer’s Odyssey that are pertinent to hospitality. Finally, we discuss the ethical dimension of hospitality.