Hemocrates and the Peloponnesian War - I, Me and Myself

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Before our hero can be written off as a wicked, power hungry tyrant, it is important to see the other side of Hermocrates’ argument in which he suggests that the power one gains should be put to good use. Thus, the ambition previously discussed is given a virtuous purpose that benefits the society. He uses this bond that people share as members of a society to implore the Kamariaians to support their brothers, the Syracusans. The concept of the common good is one that reappears in the speeches and serves to stir the emotions and ambitions of audiences and drive them support the goals Hermocrates has in mind.

As they are in the book, the Athenians seems to snuggly fit into the description that Hermocrates puts forward. Athens sees itself as the center of power in the Greek world and their reflect that belief. Their logic parallels the Hermocratic argument that maximum benefit comes from pursuing the innate desire for power. Moreover, the Athenians exploit the second part of the argument as well saying that their desire to expand grew out of fear of belligerents like barbarians whom they felt needed to be ruled. Ambition here is defined as an animal with two sides: one in which it fears for itself so it lashes out, and another where it desires to establish a position of dominance. The Athenians even go so far as to justify their expansion on the fact that they are in fact helping society by ridding the world of Barbarians and ruling those that are inferior. Essentially, their rule is doing the world a favor.

People tend to drift to what fits with their world view. This applies to countries, and in this case city-states, as well. At first, Athens seems to only go along with this view because it matches their goals. However, by referencing the example of a rival the establish some credibility and show that they aren’t simply using the argument to their benefit; rather they understand it. The Athenians say that what they are doing isn’t against what is normal and cite the Lacedaemonians who did the same things that Athens is engaging in now. Here, the argument that ambition is good regardless of its effects and who benefits is made.

It would be foolish to say that the position of the Athenians and that of Hermocrates align perfectly. While Hermocrates asserts that those being attacked should defend themselves and strike back with the force available to them, Athens believes that they should be able to rule “without excessive resentment” (Thucydides 1.75) which is an unfair assumption.

Based on the assumptions made by Hermocrates, the Peloponnesian War seems like it was inevitable. If it is natural to be selfish, then conflict will inevitably emerge when societies and circles overlap. Much conflict arises from fear that drives one to expand to protect what one already has. This domino affect, Hermocrates suggests is unavoidable and part of how the world works. The Athenians believed in their superiority and their ambition and fear drove them to push outward.

Works Cited

Thucydides, The Peloponnesian War, translated by Steven Lattimore. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1998

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