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4 Thucydides, Polybius, and Human Nature
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AbstractThis chapter discusses the importance of human nature in Polybius' views on historical causation. Scholars such as Walbank have argued persuasively for Thucydides being an importance predecessor of Polybius, but a comparison of their views on causation has yet to be undertaken. It argues that the connection between the fifth-century bc historian Thucydides and Polybius, writing in the second century bc, extends to the prominent place both assign human beings and human nature in their explanation of historical events. How human nature emerges in these authors, how they envisage its functioning within the historical process, and how both authors make clear its centrality to their work are key aims of the chapter. It aims to show that Polybius expanded upon Thucydides' conception of human nature and developed a sophisticated view of human nature's complexities and how this affected historical explanation.
Title: 4 Thucydides, Polybius, and Human Nature
Description:
AbstractThis chapter discusses the importance of human nature in Polybius' views on historical causation.
Scholars such as Walbank have argued persuasively for Thucydides being an importance predecessor of Polybius, but a comparison of their views on causation has yet to be undertaken.
It argues that the connection between the fifth-century bc historian Thucydides and Polybius, writing in the second century bc, extends to the prominent place both assign human beings and human nature in their explanation of historical events.
How human nature emerges in these authors, how they envisage its functioning within the historical process, and how both authors make clear its centrality to their work are key aims of the chapter.
It aims to show that Polybius expanded upon Thucydides' conception of human nature and developed a sophisticated view of human nature's complexities and how this affected historical explanation.
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