...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
...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 states that are involved in the struggle of power politics within a permanent moral-free state of anarchy, Thucydides’ work denotes that international relations is...
Words: 2114 - Pages: 9
...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
...Humanities I: Essay #1 The Unstable Mind of Cruelty Cruelty is a biological instinct that is programmed in all of humanity. Instincts are lead by the deprivation of needs; that of which we need we find. A fundamental and intrinsic need of all human beings is the approval of yourself and the approval of others. To doubt oneself or be disapproved by others can lead to an unstable self-image. Insecurities of physicality and emotional vulnerability, can lead to behaviors of aggression to those who stand as a threat to your own acceptance and mar the opinion of others. Lack of acceptance by others can lead to a fear that others will exploit you. Fragmentation is the term used to describe the collapse and break down that you will not be accepted at all of normal thought, behavior or social relationships. Heinz Kohut a Freudian psychoanalyst describes fragmentation as the “feeling of coming unglued”; the source of the occurrence of aggressive and sadistic behavior. These behaviors lead to the infliction of pain and suffering, otherwise known as cruelty (Kroeger). Cruelty is seen as a defense mechanism to those seeking to assert eminence to create their own sense of order. Ancient Greece’s strict religious guidelines and lack of societal conformity has led to an abuse of the justification of cruelty. People are demoralized by there own instinctual drive for indulgences. Although today society has suppressed our inherited intuitions of mankind they do still exist. From...
Words: 1647 - Pages: 7
...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
...the present, through trial and error the development of Greek chronology help achieve the documentation of the Greek experience. Greek historians grew from works of fiction with some 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...
Words: 1781 - Pages: 8
...Affiliation MEANING OF HISTORY The term history combines a number of terminologies for it to have a meaning. It therefore refers to a systematic account of natural phenomena involving accounts of events that are narrated in a chronological order and deal with past of mankind. History can also be defined as the dialogues that relates the present with the past. Evolution of mankind sometimes defines the word history. It explains the story of man and his progression in civilization, his downfalls, successes, his laws and wars, religion, arts and development. In other words it can be summarized as the biography of great men who were heroes in the past. The origin of history started way back in Greek being connected to the world famous historians Thucydides and Heredeotus.The word history also relates to writers or narrators of events referred to as historians e.g. we have historians narrating the new history of the Era of the Polis. History follows the example of discovering past human dimensions which one of the history authors divides it into five different stages. The Golden age, the Silver age, the age of Bronze and finally the Iron Age. History incorporates a number of significance that helps us to understand its meaning better. It makes life richer by providing importance to the books one reads, the sites one visits and the kind of music that one hears. It provides a platform for doing research as one has to get information from history that relates to his or her topic. History preserves...
Words: 679 - Pages: 3
...(Freyberg-Inan, 1). Yet, in political theory, "realism" represents a school of thought that analyzes the political process as it is or as it is disclosed by historical forces " ... that the able political practitioner takes into account ... and incorporates ... into his political conceptions and his political acts "(Ibid, 1-2). In the field of international relations, realism became the dominant analytical paradigm mostly after the start of the Second World War, when it displaced idealist doctrines, promising "to provide more accurate information, more powerful, and more relevant answers" to the roots or causes of peace and war (Brecher& Harvey, 54). At the same time, many features of the current realist paradigm can be traced back to the time of Thucydides, Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes. Among contemporary thinkers recognized as major writers and contributors to the realist tradition are Hans Morgenthau, Edward Carr and Kenneth Waltz (Freyberg-Inan, 8). What are then the basic tenets or common features of a realist thinker? Machiavelli would acknowledge that to be a realist one has to look at history as "a sequence of cause and effect whose course can be analysed and understood by intellectual effort, but not directed by imagination" (Carr, 64). Hobbes would persist in the same train of thought and insist that to be a realist thinker one must look at things as they are and not as they should be (Warner, 37). Thus, both of these thinkers direct us to the idea that the creation of...
Words: 17639 - Pages: 71
...In looking into the background of ostracism and its true purpose alongside the other Archaic Greek traditions in Athens of expulsion, exile, and ἀτιμία, there are several primary sources I will be using. However, the topic has its challenges. Since it covers a period where most of our surviving sources have been written sometimes centuries after the period they are writing about it is hard to find true primary source writings. The first primary source I will be using for my paper is Herodotus’ Histories. He is the first extant source for this period in Archaic Greece and through the Persian Wars, which is when the law of ostracism was enacted. His work is a very broad look into what he thought were the reasons that led to the clash between the Greeks and Persians, and as such is not particularly detailed or focused on ostracism itself. However, he does mention its use and in one case even seems to give a hint to his feelings about it: “… Aristides son of Lysimachus, an Athenian, crossed over from Aegina. Although he had been ostracized by the people, I, learning by inquiry of his character, have come to believe that he was the best and most just man in Athens.” It seems that he does not agree with the ostracism, noting Aristides’ good character and usefulness to Athens as a leader. This use of ostracism against Athens’ “best and brightest” seems to be a reoccurring theme throughout the entire period until it falls into disuse. I do not know if this might show a bias against...
Words: 1981 - Pages: 8
...necessary for scientific submissions. Where will inspiration for my essay come from? Your essay may, or may not be, a further development of normal subject work (e.g. Physics Research and Analysis, English Phillimore, History Gibbon Prize etc); it may be on subjects which have no existing prizes; it may be on a subject which is not on the curriculum (e.g. Anthropology) or which is cross-curricular (e.g. English and History of Art); or it may have emerged from Cultural perspectives lessons, the Cultural Perspectives timed essay which you take at the end of this term, be inspired by Critical Thinking work or be a ‘further developed’ praebendum essay. You should state in a covering note how and why the essay came about. Of course, it may represent a completely new and independent study of a personal academic interest of your own. When is the deadline? The deadline is the first day of Play Term after...
Words: 1271 - Pages: 6
...Hammad Mr. Shepherd Lit and Comp 12 3 November 2015 Race to The Top “The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept”.-(Thucydides). Thucydides was a Greek philosopher, but was also a father of political realism. This quote shows the true reality of society. People's main focus in life is to get success, and how they get it is almost like a race. Many people; not all, have a different mindset than others but that does not necessarily mean one is better than the other. Human nature is based on three things; competitiveness, selfishness, and aggression. The basis of human nature is people not caring about their consequences because they are too focused on getting ahead. It's no secret that when people want something, they'll get it, the only problem with that is the matter of how they got it. People might brand this society as competitive, and that represents it almost perfectly. This quote shows us how self-worth is something everybody lacks and how people judge others on where they're at in life, “Your value is defined by what you’ve done.”(Kohn) Competition means that one person can succeed, but only if others fail. Something that should be learned throughout the years is to always put yourself first but not to hurt others while doing it, and somehow that concept is long gone in society. Many studies have shown that the way people view themselves is based upon other people's opinions. Society doesn't care if people are left behind, as long as they're...
Words: 1309 - Pages: 6
...Herodotus, who lived about (c.) 485 through around 425 B.C. analyzed the reasons of the spark for the Persian Wars. Meanwhile, Thucydides, who lived from about 460 B.C. to 401 B.C., studied the Peloponnesian War, in which Athens, a force with growing strength, was pit against Sparta. Philosophical\3 Philosophers- Socrates, Plato, Aristotle - During the Gold Age of Greece, there was the rise of philosophers and writers. And, as known in traditional customs, Socrates (469 - 399 B.C.), a philosopher, questioned a boy on whether or not he often was thinking. The boy replied that he did, and Socrates stated that pondering was the beginning of the way of wisdom, and called himself a philosopher, which had the meaning of wisdom’s lover. Plato (about 429 to 347 B.C) was the pupil of Socrates and maintained the method of questioning in a record of dialogues, where Socrates was...
Words: 1924 - Pages: 8
...Inspirational Sake, 3. Fight for the concept that blacks are inferior. C. Africanism-anything that has an African origin D. Eras of History- Ancient (Stone Age), Medieval (Dark Ages History), Modern (Reform), & Current II. Discuss the four group of Black Historians. - The Author of Black Historians is Dr. Thrope. -The Beginning School-Rope to justify Emancipation -The Middle School-Builder of Black Studies -The Layman School-Untrained Historians -The New School-Professional Historians The first historian was George Washington Williams. John Rustwrum was the black undergraduate historian to graduate from Harvard. III. Fathers of History A. Carter G. Woodson-Father of Negro History ( Founder of Black History Day) B. Charles Wesley & Monroe Clark-Father of African American Studies C. Herodotus-who was Greek, Father of History in General-He wrote his history in Hodge Podgy, meaning something thrown together. D. Thucydides-Father of Scientific History IV. Review of the Browder Files by Anthony T. Browder. A. Introduction-Why can't African American reunite as a race? 1. We don't know our heritage. 2. We fail to produce the thing s we need. 3. We have a loss of sense of family. 4. We sell our land. B. "The Creation of the Negro"- this came from the word NPCRO, which means dead. It also have a relation the word MANCY, which means worship, honor, & celebrate the dead. C. "On Becoming a Born Again African"- In order to become...
Words: 673 - Pages: 3
...Arts and Experience in Classical Greece Classical Greek art held a prestigious manner in the Ancient Greece especially within the hierarchy of the society. The art of Ancient Greece not only showed class and beauty but also showed the high esteem of an individual of the time. Throughout Pollitt’s book Art and Experience in Classical Greece the author attempts to show various forms of art throughout the Ancient Greece, he also attempts to explain why the art was monumental in Greek society. Artists in ancient Greece would design numerous forms of art that included designing coins, mosaics, gem engravings, architecture, pottery and sculptures. The Greek style of art has influenced many cultures and societies after it. Learning of one’s culture and background is a very important aspect of studying a civilizations history. Art is a great example of how to grasp what times could have been like in Ancient Greece or when studying any ancient civilization. In Pollitt’s chapter “Consciousness and Conscience” the author describes many forms of art that offer unique elemental qualities. The author explains different reasons and types of art through the early classical period in Greece. For example, Pollitt discusses that in the early classical period of Greek art, there was a shift to using movement and pictorial space within the art. This element of art was a new technique used by the artists in an attempt to make the artwork look and seem more real. Figures in art would...
Words: 845 - Pages: 4
...(F.53). These behaviors can be traced back to our founder’s personal heroes they learned through Greek Mythology (F. 53). More commonly known as our founder’s “models”, they used Greek heroes and the classics to create implicit analogies while also formulating contrasts between “ ancient and contemporary individuals, societies, and governments” (F.53). Athenian heroes such as Thucydides, Xenophon, and most notably Plutarch play key models in analyzing our founders’ behavior and thinking (F.53). Thomas Jefferson once called Samuel Adams “ the Palinurus of the American Revolution”, referencing the Greek Trojan War hero who piloted the Trojan ships to Italy and then drowned after falling overboard (F.55). Jefferson also compared John Adams to that of Themistocles, due to his unwavering support of a strong Navy (F.56). John Adams said in younger days that he’d rather make nothing at all, and spend his final days in a retreat like Xenophon (F. 57). Using Greek heroes as a way of behavior comparison, the Founding fathers were able to clearly and effectively communicate with each other because they all had a thorough understanding...
Words: 866 - Pages: 4
