lthough it is seems highly likely, I disagree to believe that the strong do as they please and the weaker are compelled to do all those appointed to them, even if it violates their ethics. This statement made by Athen’s Thucydides is not true for all contexts. If one’s superiority was to be measured or determined not by the amount of resources exposed to them, but by their assertiveness and morality, the stronger would not always be able to do what they can and the weaker would not suffer what they ‘must’. When Thucydides claims ‘the strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must’ he says it on the basis of the Athenian’s war with Sparta, for which “Athens dispatches an invasion to capture a small Spartan colony, the island of
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They do so by making clear that they will not obey all that the Athenians ask them to do, for “[they, too, must tell [the Athenians] that [their] interests are, and if [the interests] coincide, [they] must try to persuade [the Athenians] of the fact.” (The Melians Dialogue, 3). This not only verifies that the power of Athens is not feared by the Melians when it comes to their moral beliefs, but also that Athens being superior is incapable of provoking the Melians to subside and give in to Athens’ interest by overlooking their own. The Athenians desire to enslave the Melians are left unfulfilled, because the Melians chose to continue fighting.The Melians are well aware that “it is difficult … for [them] to oppose [ Athen’s] power and fortune, unless the terms be equal.” (The Melians Dialogue, 4), however, they refuse concur with Athens if it goes against what they believe to be ethical, for “[they] are standing for what is right against what is wrong” (The Melians Dialogue, 4). This act of resistance that the Melians exhibit to the injunctions of Athens proves that those who appear to be weak will not always capitulate to those who are more powerful. Morality holds a strong position in defining what is strong and what it weak. If one’s mentality is morally incorrect, they, like Athens, can be proven to be weaker. Athens’ motive was to preserve
They do so by making clear that they will not obey all that the Athenians ask them to do, for “[they, too, must tell [the Athenians] that [their] interests are, and if [the interests] coincide, [they] must try to persuade [the Athenians] of the fact.” (The Melians Dialogue, 3). This not only verifies that the power of Athens is not feared by the Melians when it comes to their moral beliefs, but also that Athens being superior is incapable of provoking the Melians to subside and give in to Athens’ interest by overlooking their own. The Athenians desire to enslave the Melians are left unfulfilled, because the Melians chose to continue fighting.The Melians are well aware that “it is difficult … for [them] to oppose [ Athen’s] power and fortune, unless the terms be equal.” (The Melians Dialogue, 4), however, they refuse concur with Athens if it goes against what they believe to be ethical, for “[they] are standing for what is right against what is wrong” (The Melians Dialogue, 4). This act of resistance that the Melians exhibit to the injunctions of Athens proves that those who appear to be weak will not always capitulate to those who are more powerful. Morality holds a strong position in defining what is strong and what it weak. If one’s mentality is morally incorrect, they, like Athens, can be proven to be weaker. Athens’ motive was to preserve