Thucydides vs Plato Essay - 773 Words

Thucydides versus Plato Thucydides versus Plato on the nature of the Good Life Plato and Thucydides both had strikingly different views on their approach on the good life. Some have claimed that Plato is making normative claims, whereas Thucydides is making empirical claims. Lets start by taking a look at Plato. Platos theory on the good life was based on the belief that everything has an objective or use that is typically suited for virtue, beauty, justice, and excellence of the precise thing, and everything will depend on the completion of that role. He considers the good life as being attained through the perfect love and lack of desire. Plato views the good life as the condition a person exhibits total virtue. Virtue†¦show more content†¦The strong merely do what they allow their forces, and the weak give up. Thucydides outlooks on human environment was to persuade the weaker minds of the mean citizen of Athens to believe what they say is the best way for everyone. Not only does he see it as a way for the speaker to gain power in the interest of himself and not to the state but he also outlooks it as a necessity for the government to effectively function. Thucydides seems to believe acting from a position of strength is the best route to leading to a Good Life, a good example is when he recalls communication between Athens and Melos in the Melian dialogues. In Thucydides chronicle, the Athenian army squares off against the small island territory of Melos. Athenian leaders transmitted their officials to speak with leaders of Melos, but it’s too late for the Athenians are already determined to take over the small island at all costs. Nonetheless, the Melians somehow think that they may be able to steer clear of war while the Athenian army since Melos is associated with Sparta through heritage and has been unbiased in the confrontation between Athens and Sparta. While having a meeting with the Athenians inform the Melians that they must surrender their city and pay them tribute or face the destruction of their city. In conclusion two prominent greeks over twenty five centuries ago wrote daringly and analyzed ethical implications. These men also shinedShow MoreRelatedEssay about Thucydides vs Plato2008 Words   |  9 PagesCompare and contrast Thucydides’ and Socrates’ analyses of the fate of Athenian democracy in war, of why the Athenians went to war, and of how and why they failed. The Peloponnesian War was the turning point in Athenian hegemony in Ancient Greece. It was fought in 431 B.C. between the Delian League, led by Athens, and the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. According to Thucydides, Athens’ imposing hegemonic status and its overwhelming quest for more power made the Peloponnesian War and Athens’sRead MoreThucydide vs Plato on The Good Life Essay1927 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿ Thucydides Versus Plato: Differing Views of the Good Life What is the true nature of the Good Life? Is it living life with concern for only oneself despite the possible consequences of ones action on others? Or might it involve self-sacrifice in effort to do what one feels is right or just? Is it descriptive, or perhaps prescriptive? Two prominent Greeks, Thucydides and Plato, began providing answers to these questions over 25 centuries ago as they analyzed and wrote critically aboutRead MoreThucydides vs. Plato1598 Words   |  7 PagesPaper about Thucydides versus Plato on the nature of the Good Life 1: Thucydides versus Plato on the nature of the Good Life. Some have claimed that Thucydides is making empirical claims, whereas Plato is making normative claims. Is that true? Support your answer in your paper. Plato and Thucydides together had strikingly dissimilar views on their tactic on the good life. Many have demanded that Plato is making normative rights, whereas Thucydides has made empirical claims. Lets first take