Thucydides and the irrational.

Abstract

The goals of this dissertation are two. First, the attempt is made to determine Thucydides' view of the role played by irrational behavior in four of the most important political decisions he presents in his History: in the origins of the war (Thuc. I), in the 'Mytilenaean Debate' (III.35-50), the 'Melian Dialogue' (V.84-116), and in the Athenian decision to invade Sicily (VI.1-26). Second, the attempt is made to abstract from the whole of the History a specifically Thucydidean model of irrationality in the political arena--its types and subtypes, their constituent parts, their preconditions and catalysts, their methods of operations, their consequences, the latent motives for them, and the preventative and remedial measures which proved effective in deterring the outbreak of irrational behavior in the political arena, or in limiting its effects once unleashed. Particular attention is given to irrational desire, hope, overmastering emotional impulse, fear, envy, greed, and selective perception.