Adamantios Korais was one of the most important figures of the Modern Greek Enlightenment and the Greek intellectual struggle for the rebirth of the nation. Born in Smyrna in 1748, in a commercial and liberal environment, Korais was nurtured with the values of education, freedom and progress. From an early age he showed a strong affinity for science and languages, and soon his restless spirit led him abroad.

France as an intellectual home

He studied medicine in Montpellier, France, but his love of letters and philosophy led him on an intellectual path that would establish him as a leading figure of the Greek Enlightenment. As he settled in Paris, he found himself at the heart of the revolutionary ideas of the time and was inspired by the spirit of the French Revolution. There, until the end of his life, he developed a multifaceted work aimed at the spiritual awakening of Hellenism.

Education as a path to freedom

Korais firmly believed that the freedom of a nation passes through education. He was an ardent supporter of the need for education of the enslaved Greek people and worked tirelessly for the creation of a national education inspired by the ideals of antiquity and in harmony with the developments of the time.

His publishing works and the “Hellenic Library”

The publication and commentary of ancient Greek texts was a life’s work for Korais. Through the ‘Hellenic Libraries’ and the ‘Atacta’ series, Korais aspired to bring classical education back to the surface and pass it on to future generations, linking the past with the present. Among other things, he published and commented on the works of Isocrates, Plutarch, Aristotle and other Greek philosophers, always in a critical, modernising and educational spirit. He did not hesitate to criticize the authors, proposing interpretations and readings that promoted rationalism and democracy.

Language as a symbol of national identity

At the same time, he was an ardent supporter of Katharevousa as an intermediate form between ancient and popular language. Although his stance was divisive, his goal was spiritual unity and the cultivation of a linguistic tool that would unite generations and elevate the nation’s spirit. That is why he considered it necessary for young Greeks to study ancient Greek, not as a monument, but as a living element of their identity.

Political thought and interventions in the Struggle

His political thought was progressive, liberal and deeply democratic. He believed in reason, in the moral elevation of the individual and in the power of reason. Although he lived far from revolutionary Greece, he was an advisor, inspirer and shaper of the national vision. He corresponded with important protagonists of the Struggle and intervened with texts, advice and opinions that had a profound influence on the formation of the modern Greek state. Among other things, he drafted proposals on the constitution, the administration and the organisation of education.

Korais’ legacy

He died in Paris in 1833, never to return home. But his spirit, his work and his influence are integral parts of Greek cultural identity. Adamantios Korais was not just a scholar. He was the architect of an intellectual revolution that paved the way for freedom.

His memory remains alive whenever we talk about the power of education, about the connection with our classical heritage and about how thinking can change the world. And at a time when values are being renegotiated, Korah’s voice is more relevant than ever: as a reminder that enlightened reason and deep education are the most durable foundations for the progress of a society.