...Thucydides, an Athenian historian, political philosopher, and commander is more commonly known for his work surrounding the history of the Peloponnesian War. While serving his time as commander in the war he was exiled for his failure and wasn’t allowed to return to Athens until after the war had ended. While this may not have been ideal for him at the time, it gave him the opportunity to gather information from both opposing sides, Athens and Sparta, throughout the war. This then enabled him to write a direct and concise account of the war and to refrain from any personal opinion. He is commonly regarded as the father of philosophical history. His account of the Peloponnesian war is not only extremely accurate, but it chronicles a war that...
Words: 3905 - Pages: 16
...Thucydides, in his History of the Peloponnesian War, attempts to create a lasting piece of literature to be used by future generations. He uses the Athenian empire as an example of how politics work, especially during times of war, and how they can change through speeches from major debates. Through these dialogues, Thucydides is able to characterize the Athenian empire as an imperialistic and arrogant force whose external popularity was awful and whose internal popularity gradually degraded as the war lingered on. One of the main questions that must be answered when determining the overall view of Athens is whether they were a tyranny or, what the Athenians believed, a democracy. At the outbreak of the war “so bitter was the general feeling...
Words: 610 - Pages: 3
...The Peloponnesian War was a conflict between the Greek city-states, Athens and Sparta, from 431 BC that brought an end to the Hellenic age of Pericles and his empire by the succession of Sparta by the end of the war. Thucydides is seen as a ‘proto-realist’, one of the first realists in the study of politics that wrote in a more theoretical sense, as well as the founding father of International Relations. His study on the History of the Peloponnesian War provides awareness of the conflict and various analyses on the causes of the war by observing the strategic interaction between the states, hierarchy amongst the states along with legitimacy and levels of power to determine the pattern of their relations. Although there are undeniably numerous differences between Thucydides era and our world system today, Thucydides persists to influence contemporary international relations, namely Realism, with many realists frequently referring to the Melian Dialogue when advocating a power-based approach. With Thucydides often portraying insights into human nature, many scholars use his findings as a guide that is still relevant today due to the generality of self-interest, fear and power maximisation that still occurs as it did previously. Thucydides’ relevance today has been greatly perceived through his impact upon political realism in his studies concerning the concept of power politics. Whilst political realism expresses the view that international relations is the battle of self-interested...
Words: 2114 - Pages: 9
...It is important to study Thucydides because Thucydides can help us to understand the way politics work in the world today.This should come later – it is not an introduction to a whole paper – always assume your reader is not familiar with your topic In his book titled, The History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides brings to light, some of the causes of the war, as well as some of the consequences of the war. (This is a good opening sentence. It introduces the reader to the topic) Thucydides analyzed the Peloponnesian War on a deeper level (what do you mean?) to help us understand why and how things occur in the world. The world has a better understanding of war and politics in general because of Thucydides. Thucydides’ account of The History of the Peloponnesian War has taught us many things about how politics work in the modern world. (These last three sentences are a little repetitive and do not give a lot of information) One thing that Thucydides’ work on the Peloponnesian War has taught us is that states are only concerned with their own interests, and how their interests can benefit them (repetitive). Good! This is demonstrated in the conflict between Melos and Athens. Good! The Melians wanted to avoid conflict with Athens by trying to persuade them that the Athenians should not attack them because they were neutral and not allies to either side (Thucydides Book VI, p. 2). The Athenians did not comply with the Melians plea to maintain their territory. Instead,...
Words: 994 - Pages: 4
...2012 Many great leaders emerged throughout the events of the Peloponnesian War, but it was Pericles who was most capable in understanding and reacting to the uncertainties of war. Other leaders and representatives who appeared during this period of time included Cleon and Archidamus II. Amidst the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, and the time in between while Athens was at its greatest, Pericles rose to an iconic role of statesman, orator and war general. His prevalence and demeanor to the issues and situations surrounding the time allowed Athens to rain supreme. His speeches were influential and achievements spoke as loud as his words. Pericles was the ultimate Athenian. To fully assess Pericles, all his characteristics and positions of power need to be considered. He was a political leader, a military leader and an orator. These three separate entities require a man of great following, prowess and the total embodiment of an Athenian. So where to start when evaluating Pericles? Was he a culmination of his leadership roles or was one aspect of his legacy the determining factor to his ascertation of one of history's greatest minds? One must induce that the situations surrounding himself, his countrymen and the overall goal of the state of Athens were decisions that were not easily made and required an exuberant amount of strategy to preserve all that he stood for. Pericles, according to Thucydides, was Athen's “first citizen”. His initial actions were that of...
Words: 2548 - Pages: 11
...Many have proclaimed that Plato is making normative claims whereas, Thucydides is making empirical claim. I will address Thucydides versus Plato on the nature of the Good Life, as well as the truth about Thucydides. Thucydides and Plato have different views in their approach to the good life. Thucydides empirical claims , and dismissal of “right & justice” is best known from his famous writings “ The Peloponnesian war.” Whereas, Plato’s normative claims is best known in his writings in “The Republic.” In the Republic Plato states that the proper function of a man is his soul, to live with justice and obtain a harmonious life. The basic concept of Plato's theory about the good life is built on the concept that everything has a purpose, a job, a function. Plato believed that a man’s role is determine by nature, and man cannot decide for themselves what their function may be. In the Republic Plato discusses the proper use of function of man. It is his soul and to live with justice, and obtain a sense of harmony and unity. Lisa H. Newton stated,“in the greatest of all works of philosophy, Plato offers an elegant proof of the proposition: that whether or not the world recognizes and rewards virtue, the just person is the happiest of human beings.” However, I find in today’s society that most just people are not the wealthiest people. Somehow it is a trade off: just and poor, unjust wealthy. Thucydides would definitely disagree with the idea of universal truth of what...
Words: 752 - Pages: 4
...correlates to the problem of violence within society among the works of Sophocles’ Antigone, Plato’s Republic and Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War. Creon from Sophocles’ Antigone, Thrasymachus from Plato’s Republic and the Melian Dialogue from Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War all illustrate how force can be used for personal gain. The characters involved in these three works evidently reveal that those who are awarded with the utmost power may not always be the people who deserve the right to make decisions. Creon, from Sophocles’ Antigone, is a prime...
Words: 1427 - Pages: 6
...Thucydides was an Athenian general, political philosopher and one of the greatest ancient historians of the fifth century B.C. Father of scientific history, and also of political "realism", the school of thought that focuses on power and state security above all else. He became famous for his strict standards of evidence gathering and examination of cause and effect without reference to intervention by the divine beings. He set a standard for precision, concision and scope that makes his work characterizing to the genre of history, and the first scientific gathering of the facts of its sort. Thucydides still holds critical significance today and his texts are still studied at both propelled military colleges and universities around the world....
Words: 1608 - Pages: 7
...historical significance to the systematic study of people and culture as their society progressed through wars and cultural change. War is a universal experience which has occurred since the birth of the human race. It is also the muse of historians around the world. In early Greek society war provided a gateway to heroes, glory, and gods. The famous Trojan War described in Homer’s Iliad epic gave descriptions of Achilles, Hector, Paris and Helen of Troy which were intertwined with the gods Athena, Apollo and Hephaestus. Homer entertained the populace with the “actions of gods and the deed, passions, glories, and defeats of a few heroes,” but also cataloged a few historical significant items. Subsequent the Great Persian War (in 490 and 480/79 BC) inspired Herodotus in writing his Histories migrating from heroes and gods to a more common cultural history. His descriptions still held a dramatic flair which was pleasing to the populace but held a more chronological account of events. Following the Great Persian War was the Peloponnesian War (430-404 BC) and brought forth Thucydides. His accounts of the war provided an analytical view on events and identified sources to actions and political structure. Nevertheless historiography developed over the growth of Greek society and to better understand this each war and historian should be discussed further. Let us begin with the Trojan War. The area between the Black...
Words: 1781 - Pages: 8
...Life in Athens during the time surrounding the Peloponnesian War was full of strife and clashing ideas. Having previously fought alongside Sparta in the Persian War years before, Athens was the site of various political partitions that deeply divided the city-state, and this division created many problems for the future. The Peloponnesian War not only drained Athens of its resources, it also created a barrier between the Athenians that would last for years to come. Democracy in Athens was not the same as democracy currently seen throughout the world; rather, it was based around public forums. When Athens came to take over other city-states, creating its own empire, many citizens of the Hellenistic world disagreed on what the proper form of government should be....
Words: 474 - Pages: 2
...A Biblical View of Science, Technology, and Business: Do Utilitarian’s Agree with These Biblical Views? Utilitarianism was originated by Epicurus in ancient Greece and is the doctrine that an action is right as long as it promotes happiness, usefulness, and overall pleasurableness. If the action inflicts pain than it is not seen as right. Many of these ideas adapted well with the all of the modernization and changes that were occurring in the technology, science, and business world during the eighteenth century. Although the idea’s did fit well there was one issue, the new Utilitarian views were clashing with one of the most respected religions teachings; the Bible. There are many differences between the Utilitarian point of view; compared to the Bible’s point of view. Let’s begin with Technology, the Bible does not discuss this topic very much throughout its readings. Technological advances in a sense do not seem necessary, seeing that God is provides and protects those who follow him. Throughout the reading of The Gospel According to Matthew an anti-materialistic approach is used; “contempt for even the necessities of life and the assurance that ‘God will provide’” (Newton, Source Reader, p. 61). For example, the young rich man in the reading asks God what good deed he can complete in order to receive eternal life. God first suggests to the man to follow the Ten Commandments, the man states that he has been following the Ten Commandments since he was a young boy. God...
Words: 1833 - Pages: 8
...In his recount of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides presents the speech of the Spartan King Archidamus as a part of the debate that occurred at the Sparta War Council. In his speech, Archidamus hopes to convince the Spartans that, contrary to conventional belief, they are not truly courageous if they give in to the urging of their allies and immediately went to war with Athens. Rather, self-control, expressed in the form of prudent decision-making, represents true courage because the exercise of self-control is able to endow its possessor with other Spartan ideals—namely, good judgment, a sense of shame, and moderation. Through tying his conception of courage with other highly esteemed traditional Spartan ideals, Archidamus espouses a vision of the...
Words: 1189 - Pages: 5
...In the reading about Thucydides, it discusses two topics during the Peloponnesian War. One of them is between Melo and Athens and their dialog, while the other is about the revolution of Corcyraeans. Both of these topics are discussed by Thucydides which shows the beliefs of realism worldview, these views on realism are still relevant in modern day when it comes to the foreign policy during times of genocides, and Obama’s foreign policy. In the textbook Why Politics Matters: An Introduction to Political Theory by Kevin Dooley and Joseph Patten it discusses classic realism and the basis for it. Realism is the view that human nature lacks morals, selfish, and seeks power. Philosophers who believe in such are, Machiavelli, Hobbes, and Thucydides...
Words: 1308 - Pages: 6
...Last discussion, we focused on Thucydides’ motives and methods for his historical record of the Peloponnesian war. First, we established that Thucydides’ stated purpose was to create a lasting account of the war between Sparta and Athens and to inform future generations of the lessons in history. Thucydides, unlike his contemporary Herodotus, was alive for all of the events he described. As a result, much of his evidence his is based on speeches, which he and his informants were unable to perfectly record. In place of the exact words, Thucydides takes the general sense of the speeches and applies what in his opinion “was called for by each situation” (1.22) This methodology ties directly into Thucydides’ notion that human nature remains constant....
Words: 334 - Pages: 2
...Written by the Greek historian Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War is one that tells the story of the war (431-404 BC) which divided the Greek world between Athens and its allies and Lacedaemon. The Melian Dialogue presents two sides and two perspectives that of the Melians neutrality and that of the Athenians’ might. By Thucydides juxtaposing the Athenian’s position to that of the Melians, there is a clear conclusion of which side actions are tactically and morally acceptable. One would argue that the Athenians are immoral for violently plundering the Melian territory because they had the power to do so. However, given the circumstance of trying to defend their empire due to the imbalance of forces, the Athenian actions are not unduly harsh and are justified because they needed to assert their power. The Melians’ senselessness of resistance and logicality of weakness enables Athens’ actions to be more reasonable. Athens is a nation that has demonstrated their power and authority towards other nations in situations of war and imperialism. In tactically trying to gain allies in the war against Sparta, Athens’ main objective is not to appear weak before their enemies and as a result, they needed to assert their power towards Melos. While asking the Melians to submit, the Athenians say to them, “for your hostility cannot so much hurt us as your friendship will be an argument to our subjects of our weakness, and your enmity of our power” (Thucydides 269). Here, the Athenians...
Words: 1292 - Pages: 6
