It is one of the two most famous instances of fictionalized speeches in the book (the other being the defense of Athenian democracy in the funeral oration of Pericles in the beginning of the work). If the Melians do not submit, the Athenians could argue that they are going against natural law, which is unjust. The Athenian argument seems to me to be we’re big, we’re doing what we want and there’s nothing wrong with that, and that you’re too small to be worrying about what the right thing to do is. This particular dialogue is written by Thucydides who is also known as the first Realist of the world. I don’t think justice need strictly mean a moral type of justice. The main theme of the dialogue comes up with the consideration of many crucial elements. Justice doesn’t seem to concern the Athenians since they believe they’re justified in doing what they want because they can, and although the Athenians do briefly argue that their actions are perhaps in the name of expediency, this seems to me to be more of a justification of their actions than a motivation. pp. Thus, although the destruction of Melos was indeed brutal, the Athenian attempt to procure its surrender was at the least less inhumane than an immediate debellation would have been. I’ll try to summarize some main points and point out a few themes. To the reader, it seems apparent that the Athenians are arguing for expedient purposes.

Although it may seem slightly perverse, it is indeed a form of justice. [1] The Melian dialogue takes place fifteen years into the Peloponnesian war, during the confrontation in 416–415 BC between the Athenians and the people of Melos, a small island located in the southern Aegean Sea just east of Sparta. How is self-interest permanently separate from justice? Introduction Diversity in patients and societies mean that they have different medical needs and risk factors. Although the Melians held out for a time, the Athenians eventually won after some form of unspecified treachery within the city. Does working for expediency necessarily imply injustice? They believe it ethical and realistic to adopt the facet of power which is not unjust as it determines their self-interest. But at the same time, can one not argue that the Athenian motives were for justice? Melian Dialogue: Mastery Summary Athenians: Let’s not make long speeches, let’s get straight to the point. I’ll try to summarize some main points and point out a few themes. The Athenians attempt to overtake the Melians, but like ‘hlsoshni’ said above, could the Athenian rule over the land of Melos be just. They explain the particular prospect related to the element of justice that there should be proper consideration of the fairness and justice in the particular paradigm of the danger of war. The Melians argue that an invasion will alarm the other neutral Greek states, who will become hostile to Athens for fear of being invaded themselves. The Melians look to the future. Well, it stands out because it is the only dialogue Thucydides presents in the style of a Greek tragedy. The particular and prominent philosophies of the Athenian’s and the Melian’s can be effectively identified through their particular approach towards justice. In the case of the Melians, I would argue that they are acting in the name of justice. Melian Dialogue is known as one of the influential dialogues in the field of literature. We divided them into categories of various types of papers and disciplines for your convenience. Just after the Battle of Mantinea in 417 BC, the Athenians moved on the Melians and demanded that they join the Delian League, thus effectively becoming part of their empire. Expediency instead seems to be the dominating ideal of the Melians, as slavery would reduce their wealth, destroy their land, and subjugate them to foreigner. He explains the different aspects of the war which happened between the two influential forces of Athens and Sparta. Athenians follow the direction to overcome all the elements which appear with the consideration and desire of the kingdom. The Athenians argue that the Spartans have nothing to gain and a lot to lose by coming to the Melians' aid – mere kinship will not motivate them. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. W. Liebeschuetz (1968). The envoys are to argue that the Melians should accept Athenian rule rather than go to war. The Spartan general Lysander then retook Melos and restored the Melians to their homeland.

The Athenians then send envoys to Melos to negotiate before destroying any of the Melian land. Thucydides, \The Melian Dialogues" Jackson and Rosberg, \Why Africa’s Weak States Persist" 4Review Questions Check your understanding of this week’s material and key ideas with the following questions. This specific dialogue is the proper and effective explanation of the war which is known as the Peloponnesian War. Athenian: "Of the gods we believe, and of men we know, that by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can. 50, no.

The Melians do not want to simply accept Athenian rule, because “to submit is to give ourselves over to despair, while action still preserves for us a hope that we may stand erect” (5.102). Not everyone has rejected the Athenian case. In the face of Brexit, we see one of the central themes in international politics, namely that of territorial conflict negotiation between unequals. Academic Master is a writing company that provides free essays to the students all over the World. But we trust that the gods may grant us fortune as good as yours, since we are just men fighting against unjust, and that what we want in power will be made up by the alliance of the Lacedaemonians, who are bound, if only for very shame, to come to the aid of their kindred. 3–26. The Athenians counter that only the strong have a right to indulge in hope; the weak Melians are hopelessly outnumbered. Athens correctly predicts that Sparta won't or can't stop the Athenian army from destroying Melos. Among those necessities, health care issue possesses a critical position, and it is increasingly demanding its complete overhauling. [8] Bosworth further contends that the Athenians could only confront the Melians with the reality of their position by stating it in the bluntest terms. It is the more volatile island states and the subjects they have already conquered that are more likely to take up arms against Athens. I find it interesting that it was one of their own who gave them up to the Athenians because this suggests that someone did not have faith in the Melian’s plan and was willing to sacrifice the people in order to save himself and his family. Their particular behavior with the Melian people was not the approach of injustice or the paradigm of forcing others. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Looking at Brexit through a historical lens provides us with a golden opportunity to explore political realism and idealism, and draw parallels to the Melian Dialogue. 73–77. There is therefore need for different teaching methods and health promotion strategies. The Athenian’s were all ready to use the form of power to suppress other with their consideration of self-interest and the particular approach of justice which was entirely different from the Melian’s definition of justice. “Thucydides the Constructivist.” Richard Ned Lebow: A Pioneer in International Relations Theory, History, Political Philosophy and Psychology, Springer, 2017, pp. Required fields are marked *. The tragedies staged yearly in Athens dealt with big ideas: politics, religion, family, etc. If you are ready to talk about the safety of your city then we are ready to speak. Justice, in many cases, is just a contest to see who can achieve something for their own self interest. They consent, however, to talking with the Melian ‘few,’ and offer to speak frankly and spontaneously. —. The Melians argue that they are a neutral city and not an enemy, so Athens has no need to crush them. Thucydides does not make his opinion on the matter particularly evident; he includes Athenian arguments about human nature as well as the Melian appeals to morality and equality. B. Bosworth (1993). Because we feel sympathy for the Melians, the readers feel that justice in this case involves the Melian point of view. This argument claims that the war they would fight is defensive in nature, thus protecting themselves (justice) and allowing them to gain experience and be a better polis for it (expediency). The matter is one of personal interpretation more than anything. They believe that as they are strong so they can do everything they want and it is completely justified to fulfill the paradigm of their self-interest (Lebow, “Power, Persuasion, and Justice”).

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