Analysis of Cleon “Lack of learning combined with sound common sense is more helpful than… cleverness,”
-Cleon
Starting with a background of Cleon, he was a general in the Delian League fighting for Athens against the Spartans. Cleon is widely acclaimed as one of the most notorious demagogues. Although an Aristocrat by association in politics, Cleon stood by what today we would call the working class. Not revered by the upper class, Cleon received much negativity, especially from Aristophanes and Thucydides (whose speech will be mentioned later) who wrote negatively. Cleon was anti-aristocratic, this led him a very wide populist following and influence. He was in charge of operations against Sphaeteria, which was earned as a …show more content…
This could be one form of satire used by Thucydides, in order to poke fun at Cleon as he wasn’t among one of his favorite individuals. This thought could also be an example of a paradox.
Just like in battle, Cleon was known for a forceful approach, and considered a very brutal man by Thucydides in terms of his speeches and rhetoric. This resulted in writers portraying him as a tyrant. Cleon was by definition a fighter till the death when he died in the Battle of Amphipolis. We are going to investigate as mentioned previously one of Thucydides pieces titled, On the Punishment of the Mytileneans which is a speech that was delivered by Cleon. Starting out on the subject of Topoi, we see the first comparison Cleon presents more specifically degree, “For owing to your daily freedom from fear, and from plotting against each other, you entertain the same views toward your allies also.” Where you see Cleon comparing the people of Athens to the people from …show more content…
Based on only Cleon’s say, which can’t be refuted. In this next example, “For the latter wish to appear wiser than the laws, and to overrule what is ever spoken for the public good -- thinking that they could not show their wisdom in more important matters -- and by such means they generally ruin their country.” Cleon is guilty of using the fallacy of hasty generalization by stating “generally ruin their
-Cleon
Starting with a background of Cleon, he was a general in the Delian League fighting for Athens against the Spartans. Cleon is widely acclaimed as one of the most notorious demagogues. Although an Aristocrat by association in politics, Cleon stood by what today we would call the working class. Not revered by the upper class, Cleon received much negativity, especially from Aristophanes and Thucydides (whose speech will be mentioned later) who wrote negatively. Cleon was anti-aristocratic, this led him a very wide populist following and influence. He was in charge of operations against Sphaeteria, which was earned as a …show more content…
This could be one form of satire used by Thucydides, in order to poke fun at Cleon as he wasn’t among one of his favorite individuals. This thought could also be an example of a paradox.
Just like in battle, Cleon was known for a forceful approach, and considered a very brutal man by Thucydides in terms of his speeches and rhetoric. This resulted in writers portraying him as a tyrant. Cleon was by definition a fighter till the death when he died in the Battle of Amphipolis. We are going to investigate as mentioned previously one of Thucydides pieces titled, On the Punishment of the Mytileneans which is a speech that was delivered by Cleon. Starting out on the subject of Topoi, we see the first comparison Cleon presents more specifically degree, “For owing to your daily freedom from fear, and from plotting against each other, you entertain the same views toward your allies also.” Where you see Cleon comparing the people of Athens to the people from …show more content…
Based on only Cleon’s say, which can’t be refuted. In this next example, “For the latter wish to appear wiser than the laws, and to overrule what is ever spoken for the public good -- thinking that they could not show their wisdom in more important matters -- and by such means they generally ruin their country.” Cleon is guilty of using the fallacy of hasty generalization by stating “generally ruin their