Ryan Otto
Ms. Mitchell
World History 1
10 February 2014
An Examination of Human Nature
Where ancient historians are concerned, Thucydides of Athens is regarded as one of the best.
His records are generally considered to be accurate (unlike that of Herodotus), and he is known
for having conducted thorough research before he began writing his account. Yet Thucydides was
not only a historian. Throughout his works are scattered insights into the nature of humans based
on his observations and interpretations of events. These are particularly prominent in
Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War. In this record, he discussed the nature of human
behavior and how it changes when perilous or extremely strenuous circumstances arise. He
described how these behaviors affected both Athens and Corcyra, and indirectly demonstrated
the similarities between the outcomes of the disasters which occurred in both city states.
Thucydides believed that it is inherent to humans that we as a species adapt to new
circumstances. If they are in a time of peace, people would establish laws and order. Similarly, if
people are in a time of war, they will kill and brutalize each other with no regard for law and
only look out for themselves. Both the plague in Athens and the civil war in Corcyra are perfect
examples of this. In his account of the plague, he stated "For the catastrophe was overwhelming
that men, not knowing what would happen next to them, became indifferent to every rule of
religion or of law" (Thucydides, 155). Assuming this is an accurate account of the plague's
impact on Athens, then it is apparent that Thucydides was correct in his statements about human
nature.
The outcomes of the plague and the civil war in Corcyra both support Thucydides's ideas. In
each case, the end result was chaos and an every man for himself mentality. With the plague in
Athens no one saw the benefit of following the laws, so the infrastructure crumbled. People did
what they thought was necessary to survive. In his book, Thucydides wrote "As for what is called
honour [sic], no one showed himself willing to abide by its laws" (Thucydides, 155). This clearly
shows how Thucydides's ideas were correct. In the case of the civil war, Peithias, a politician
who was in full support of Athens, further demonstrates Thucydides's theories. Peithias was
brought to trial for enslaving the people of Corcyra to Athens. When the charges against him
failed, he retaliated by accusing five of his opponents of cutting vine props on the sacred ground
if Zeus. This sent his formerly wealthy opponents into poverty. While this is not the same as
showing complete disregard for the law, the selfish behavior in the name of self-preservation
makes it a perfect parallel to the behavior exhibited in Athens. Granted it is on a much smaller
scale, but the reasoning behind Peithias's actions is the same as that of those affected by the
plague.
There were several specific ways in which people acted which prove Thucydides's views on
human nature right. In his account of the plague, Thucydides describes how people with the
plague were treated by the healthy. "For when people were afraid to visit the sick, then they died
with no one to look after them; indeed, there were many houses in which all the inhabitants
perished through lack of any attention" (Thucydides, 154). Though there were some who tended
to the sick, it was more likely than not that they themselves would end up catching the plague.
This caused most people to avoid and neglect the infected. Many of the wealthy would act in
extremely selfish ways during the plague as well. Thucydides writes: "Seeing how quick and
abrupt the changes of fortune which came to the rich who suddenly died and to those who had
previously been penniless but now inherited their wealth, people now began openly to venture on
acts of self indulgence which before then they used to keep dark." With these selfish selfish acts
of over indulgence, it is easy to see how Thucydides was correct in his theories.
Examining the evidence, we see how Thucydides was correct in his views on human nature.
When placed in a deadly environment, people do resort to selfish behavior and abandon all sense
of order. The accuracy of Thucydides's views can be measured by observing the outcomes of
both Athens during the plague and the civil war in Corcyra. We can also see the numerous
examples of how people treated one another during these times. Yet Thucydides's thoughts on
human nature can be viewed in modern times. When observing the Sahel region of Africa, it can
be seen when there is a severe lack of infrastructure causes people to ignore the law and resort to
crime in order to survive. This is yet more proof of how Thucydides was not only correct in his
analysis of the Peloponnesian war, but also of human nature.
