Imperial Ambition in Free Politics: The Problem of Thucydides' Alcibiades
Imperial Ambition in Free Politics: The Problem of Thucydides' Alcibiades
This chapter explores the lessons and implications that can be derived about grand ambition from Thucydides' Alcibiades. It first gives the context of Alcibiades, from his work as a strategist in the culminating war between Athens and Sparta, to his turning traitor to his homeland, democratic Athens, and eventually leading the monarchic Persia against both Athens and Sparta. As such, there is an inherent problem in free politics as well as in Alcibiades. Even though such a man desires superiority that would threaten a free order, it also remains true that a free order requires his superior qualities and yet is unable to tolerate them. In essence, Athens needed Alcibiades, and every time it drove him out, they faced disastrous military consequences. Thus the chapter surveys Thucydides' picture of Alcibiades and his political exploits, focusing also on the soul seen in the public effects of these exploits. In effect, it sets the stage for Plato's psychological diagnosis of Alcibiades.
Keywords: Thucydides' Alcibiades, Thucydides, free politics, free order, Alcibiades, Plato's psychological diagnosis
Yale Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs , and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
