Thucydides – Chesterfield Strategy

Just War Theory in Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War

Posted on June 16, 2019June 17, 2019 by Linda Waldron in Ethics, History, Human Nature, Strategy

“The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must” Thucydides[1] Thucydides’ history of the Peloponnesian Waris generally acknowledged to be an outstanding example of military historiography. The text is an enthralling yet challenging account of the catastrophic impact of the 27-year war between Athens and Sparta during the 5th Century BC. … Continue reading Just War Theory in Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War →

Thucydides and the Inseparable Union of War and Human Nature

Posted on November 25, 2018March 31, 2019 by The Chesterfield Colonel in History, Human Nature, Learning and Adaptation, Strategy

Without humans, war would be a relatively straight-forward affair. Thucydides explores the dynamics of human interaction in his account of the Peloponnesian War; both how humans affect, and are affected by war. He presents us with a number of key propositions about war and human nature, perhaps most strikingly, the motives for war; “fear, honour, … Continue reading Thucydides and the Inseparable Union of War and Human Nature →