Title The humanity of Thucydides / Clifford Orwin

Published Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c1994

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Description 1 online resource (x, 235 p.) Contents Ch. 1. Prologue: The Athenian Empire as Freely Chosen Project: Pericles' Funeral Oration -- Ch. 2. The Outbreak of the War and the Problem of Blame. The State of the Problem. "It Is Right ..." "It Is Necessary ..." To the First Spartan Congress and the Speech of the Corinthian Envoys. Nature, Necessity, and Justice: The Speech of the Athenian Envoys at Sparta. The "Fifty Years" as a Commentary on the Athenian Speech. Unresolved Tensions in the Speech of the Athenians at Sparta. Through Spartan Eyes -- Ch. 3. Justice as Usual. Justice, Virtue, and the Duties of Alliance: The Speech of the Mytilenians at Olympia (3.9-14). Plataea and Thebes. The Justice of Sparta and the Athenian Thesis -- Ch. 4. Piety and Necessity. Piety, Necessity, and the Athenian Thesis: The Delian Debate -- Ch. 5. The Melian Dialogue and the Fate of Melos. Why a Dialogue: Speech and Context (5.84-89). Ought the Athenians Attack? (5.90-99). Ought the Melians Resist? (5.100-113). Spartan Neglect, Athenian Cruelty, Disaster in Sicily The Envoys to Melos as Exponents of the Athenian Thesis -- Ch. 6. Melos and Syracuse. The Wisdom and Folly of Nicias. The Dialogue on Melos and the Mendacity of Euphemus. Athens and Mycalessus. The Folly and Wisdom of Nicias. Motive and Compulsion in the Sicilian Campaign -- Ch. 7. The Athenian Thesis Reconsidered: Diodotus and Hermocrates. The Mytilenian Debate. The Speech of Hermocrates at Gela -- Ch. 8. Domestic Politics. Plague. Stasis. Plague, Stasis, and the Periclean Vision. The Question of the Regime -- Ch. 9. Recapitulation and Conclusion: The Humanity of Thucydides -- Appendix 1: Thucydides 1.22.1-3 -- Appendix 2: Thucydides' Use of Prophasis at 1.23.5-6 -- Appendix 3: Thucydides' Presentation of the Demand for the Repeal of the Megarian Decree Summary Thucydides has long been celebrated for the unflinching realism of his presentation of political life. And yet, as some scholars have asserted, his work also displays a profound humanity. In the first thorough exploration of the relation between these two traits, Clifford Orwin argues that Thucydides' humanity is not a reflection of the author's temperament but an aspect of his thought, above all of his articulation of the central problem of political life, the tension between right and compulsion. This book provides the most complete treatment to date of Thucydides' handling of the problem of injustice, as well as the most extensive interpretations yet of the speeches in which it comes to light. Thucydides does not merely display the weakness of justice in the world, but joins his characters in exploring the implications of this weakness for our understanding of what justice is. Orwin pursues this question through Thucydides' work and relates it to the historian's other leading concerns, such as the contrast between the Athenian way and the Spartan way, the role of piety in political life, the interaction of foreign and domestic politics, and the role of statesmanship in a world dominated by frenzies of hope, fear, and indignation. Above all, Orwin demonstrates the richness, complexity, and daring of Thucydides' articulation of these issues Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (p. [217]-228) and index Notes Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed Subject Thucydides. History of the Peloponnesian War. Thucydides, 460-approximately 395 v. Chr. Thucydide, 0460? - 0395? av. j. - c. Histoire de la guerre du Péloponnèse. SUBJECT History of the Peloponnesian War (Thucydides) fast Subject Human behavior. Behavior human behavior. 18.43 ancient Greek literature. HISTORY -- Ancient -- Greece. War -- Causes Historiography Human behavior Peloponnesische Oorlog. Redes. Rechtvaardigheid. Grèce -- Histoire -- 431-404 av. j. -- c. (Guerre du Pélonnèse) Comportement humain. Greece -- History -- Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C. -- Historiography Greece -- History -- Peloponnesian War, 431-404 B.C. -- Causes Greece Grèce -- 431-404 av. J.-C. (Guerre du Péloponnèse) Genre/Form History Form Electronic book LC no. 2021700970 ISBN 9780691219400 0691219400

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