Book contents
- Thucydides’ Search for the Truth
- Thucydides’ Search for the Truth
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1 The Character of Thucydides’ Book
- Chapter 2 The Case for Athens
- Chapter 3 The Case against Athens
- Chapter 4 The Case for Sparta
- Chapter 5 The Case against Sparta
- Chapter 6 The Character of Thucydides
- References
- Index
Chapter 5 - The Case against Sparta
The Weakness of Justice
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 September 2026
Book contents
- Thucydides’ Search for the Truth
- Thucydides’ Search for the Truth
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1 The Character of Thucydides’ Book
- Chapter 2 The Case for Athens
- Chapter 3 The Case against Athens
- Chapter 4 The Case for Sparta
- Chapter 5 The Case against Sparta
- Chapter 6 The Character of Thucydides
- References
- Index
Summary
Thucydides’ account of the demise of the Athenian expedition to conquer Sicily appears to vindicate the Spartans’ understanding of that which is human, that is, of the fundamental character and condition of human beings, as one according to which we are morally free beings who are ruled by just gods. However, Thucydides points to grave problems with that understanding, most clearly–but not only–from his account of the Athenian response to the Sicilian disaster through to the end of the book (8.1-109).
Information
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- Thucydides' Search for the TruthOn Politics, Human Nature, and Religion, pp. 180 - 231Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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