Thucydides- Human Nature

1 Pages 325 Words

Thucydides’ history teaches us that human nature does not change, but may be overcome with reason. He proves the statement history is doomed to repeat itself true. He presents his thoughts of human nature throughout his account of the Peloponnesian War, many of which run parallel with other events that happened hundreds of years after his death.
Thucydides states, “In the confusion into which life was now thrown in the cities, human nature, always rebelling against the law… (3.84).” He is saying that it is human nature to be resentful toward superiority (the law), whenever there is a breakdown of civilized life. This proves true when the plague breaks out in Athens. The people of Athens reject Pericles, and after his death the new politicians grew envious of each other, and jealous of Pericles accomplishments. The Athenians also stopped caring for the sick for the fear of getting the plague themselves. Other events, such as the killing of the Melians are also linked to the plague. This massacre showed how human response in a desperate time has ‘no respect for justice’. They acted recklessly, and did not gain anything by doing this. Thucydides makes it clear that in times of distress humans become very selfish and forfeit their morality and religion for revenge, envy, and rebellion.
The black plague in the 1300’s proves Thucydides hypothesis true. There was the same selfishness and revolt against superiority in Europe as there was in Athens. The Cold War is very comparable to the Peloponnesian War. The United States and Russia were both superpowers, both wanting to be on top and both had two different ways of life. However, no war broke out. This shows how we, as humans, are learning from the past. Human nature has not necessarily changed, but it is possible that humans have grown with intelligence and reason....