tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post3008286800987718293..comments2024-02-09T16:13:32.416-08:00Comments on Classical Carousel: The History of the Peloponnesian War - Book VIIICleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-21997359827052106022017-07-30T18:03:31.508-07:002017-07-30T18:03:31.508-07:00So interesting ..... I loved Book VIII because I t...So interesting ..... I loved Book VIII because I thought it really highlighted the defects of human nature in more condensed (events) and yet a little more detailed fashion: the attacks and manipulations and changing alliances and chaos and short-sightedness, etc. I was sad when it ended.<br /><br />I wonder though if the Greeks set up true oligarchies as a fair comparison. It sounded like a bunch of people wanting to try something new that was influenced by a complete Narcissist (Alcibiades) and then went about it in a haphazard fashion. <br /><br />It's interesting that Thucydides targets "oligarchies that arise <i>out of democracies</i>" You'd think if the new rulers had been in a democracy, they would have been used to "sharing" and not on such big power-trips. It is clear however, that Thucydides values democracy.<br /><br />I'm glad to have you reading along with us! You're often ahead of me and sometimes it seems we're the only ones who finish, with the exception of perhaps, Ruth. I hope you continue on with the list!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-11805591092742255042017-07-29T23:50:49.822-07:002017-07-29T23:50:49.822-07:00I thought Book VIII was a bit harder to follow, ma...I thought Book VIII was a bit harder to follow, maybe because there's less dialogue/rhetoric than in earlier parts of the book. One of the interesting bits of this section, though, is Thucydides's description of "the line of conduct so surely fatal to oligarchies that arise out of democracies." In these governments the oligarchs pretend to be more than political equals: each thinks himself "the chief and master of his fellows" and will not easily accept political defeat. In democracies, on the other hand, the democratic process means that the outcome of elections is largely a matter of chance, so defeat is not really a cause for humiliation. <br /><br />The hardest parts of reading Thucydides were probably getting started and finishing, but I enjoyed most of the middle and overall it was quite powerful. Bethhttps://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5863991-bethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-70933803586910286602017-07-28T12:45:29.292-07:002017-07-28T12:45:29.292-07:00Ha ha! I'm going to probably put a number of ...Ha ha! I'm going to probably put a number of you to sleep again, as I start the Republic. The good news is that I'm reading other books in between so HOPEFULLY, I'll throw in a couple of reviews on those before long!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-84040562777468427862017-07-27T14:50:16.189-07:002017-07-27T14:50:16.189-07:00I know I haven't been commenting on these, but...I know I haven't been commenting on these, but I just don't have anything to say. I guess I'll wait until you start another book :-DBookstoogehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16059110063509922530noreply@blogger.com