History of Political Ideas
Answer one question from part I and one question from part II.
No more than 1,000 words per each question.
You do not need to answer all question, just one per section and you chan choose which one.
In order to answer any of these questions, you will need to read the associated book.
Part I. Answer one question. You will need to read the book Thucydides, ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’ in order to answer any of these. (book attached)
1. “In fine, I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time.” Explicate and evaluate this claim.
2. What are three things Thucydides seems to want us to learn from the career and life of Brasidas? Support your answer with careful attention to the text.
3. What are three things Thucydides seems to want us to learn from the career and life of Phormio? Support your answer with careful attention to the text.
4. Pick any character who appears in Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War and insert into question 3 or 4 and answer concerning that character.
5. In the debate concerning how Athens should treat the Mytilenians, who makes the better argument, Cleon or Diodotus. Why do you think so, and what is the basis of your evaluation?
6. Compare and contrast the Funeral Oration of Pericles with the Athenian position concerning politics and power articulated in the Melian dialogue. What do we learn about the changing or stable nature of Athenian policy with regard to the purpose of empire and the aims of war when comparing the Funeral Oration with the Melian Dialogue?
Part II. Answer one question.
1. Choose any one (1) of the following themes or topics that appear in Thucydides’ Peloponnesian War: justice; necessity; freedom; motion (kinesis); rest; preparedness and practical wisdom; luck/ happenstance. Discuss with respect to the following questions: How does Thucydides illustrate or articulate this theme/topic? What do we learn about the theme/topic from what Thucydides say about it in his own voice or in the voice of one or more characters in the History, or in the action or events of the history, or in a combination of these?
You will need to read the book Thucydides, ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’ in order to answer this question. (book attached)
2. Was the Athenian Empire a just undertaking by the terms of Pericles’ Funeral Oration? Why or why not? Be sure to recall the history of its development as you consider this question
You will need to read the book Thucydides, ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’ in order to answer this question. (book attached)
3. Is Sophocles’ Antigone a “possession for all time”? Why or why not?
You will need to read the play Sophocles, “Antigone,,” in order to answer this question. (book attached)
4. Is Sophocles’ Philoctetes a “possession for all time”? Why or why not?
You will need to read the play Sophocles, “Philoctetes,” in order to answer this question. (book attached)
5. Who has the better argument: Antigone or Creon? Or is such a question poorly posed?
You will need to read the play Sophocles, “Antigone,,” in order to answer this question. (book attached)
6. Evaluate the “resolution” that is offered to the conflict between the characters in Sophocles’ Philoctetes. What does it seem to teach? Do you find this ending to the play satisfying? Why or why not?
You will need to read the play Sophocles, “Philoctetes,” in order to answer this question. (book attached)
I would suggest to answer question one from part I , because you can answer that question by only reading the first chapter (book) of the History of the Peloponnesian War.
And for the part II, I would suggest to answer any question between 3, 4, 5, 6 because these plays are very short readings (plays)
THIS IS NOT A RESEARCH ESSAY, YOU JUST NEED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN A CONCRETE WAY.
NO EXTERNAL RESEARCH IS NEEDED.
BUT REFERENCE IS REQUIRED IN A VERY SHORT WAY, EXAMPLE;
“Thucydides, ‘History of the Peloponnesian War’. Book 1, p. 43”
