POL200Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Natural Disaster
Citizens internalize war
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"war is a violent teacher"
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Like plague for Athenians
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Corcyra --> satellite city: warfare acted as natural disaster, led the city to disaster
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Radicalized by army superpowers who wanted to use the city for their own purposes
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Individuals identified with army factions more than they identified with the city as a whole
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Speech proves to be powerless in face of wants
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People fled any commitment for common good in favour of their own interests
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We are aristocrats, deserve to lead city
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Mere window dressing for ulterior motives
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We stand for " "
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92: Thucydides shows us how speech is unable to unite people in the face of adversity
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"language corrupted"
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Speech depends on shared framework
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90-91: 'reversed' usual way to evaluate activities'
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Relationship between ethics and politics
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Justice, courage, prudence --> terms were applied differently : ex: rushing to kill someone
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Speech and evaluation were corrupted
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Shared terminology to understand each other
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This is what people are really like underneath, hostility, selfishness
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"Desire to rule" --> avarice and Ambition
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Breakdown of political order
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Difference between Athens and Corcyra : Athenians found resources of resilience, could trust one another
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Corcyra
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Pericles' strategy worsened the effects of the plague
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People blamed leaders for suffering and war
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50: Athenians thought Gods brought the plague
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People had voted, approved plan --> can't blame
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Democratic accountability
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Abide by democratic decisions
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Calls upon citizens to accept their own fault
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Rational ability to predict the future --> FAILED
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Has to readdress whether political future is foreseeable (in light of the plague)
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Develops stance regarding citizens --> he is leader and teacher, saying better than other leaders in
Athens
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Pericles defends
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52: despite plague, Athenians need each other, stay strong together --> rational to be patriotic
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People in Corcyra had given up hope of the common good
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44: Eros: passionate, desire for unity with another
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Pericles' Response to the plague (Book 2)
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September 29, 2016
5:44 PM
LECTURE Page 6
Document Summary
Corcyra --> satellite city: warfare acted as natural disaster, led the city to disaster. Radicalized by army superpowers who wanted to use the city for their own purposes. Individuals identified with army factions more than they identified with the city as a whole. Speech proves to be powerless in face of wants. People fled any commitment for common good in favour of their own interests. 92: thucydides shows us how speech is unable to unite people in the face of adversity. Justice, courage, prudence --> terms were applied differently : ex: rushing to kill someone. This is what people are really like underneath, hostility, selfishness. Difference between athens and corcyra : athenians found resources of resilience, could trust one another. Pericles" strategy worsened the effects of the plague. People had voted, approved plan --> can"t blame. Calls upon citizens to accept their own fault. Has to readdress whether political future is foreseeable (in light of the plague)
