Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Thought and reflections the plague and the civil war at Corcyra


Ben Howson. World History per. 6                                                                      01/29/14
Thought and reflections on: The Plague, and the Civil war at Corcyra
By Thucydides


Human Nature

Human nature is a funny thing. My definition of human nature is that human nature comes out in times of struggle. It is a way of being, feeling, and acting. It shows us and others who we really are. Thucydides thoughts are slightly different from mine. He thinks that, like me, human nature comes out in times of struggle like the plague but he thinks that that is who we really are as people. I believe that this is not who we really are. This way of being is just an instinct for survival. In The History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides said that human nature is who we really are and when a plague comes, it is the trigger that provokes the dark side of human nature. This dark side is separating from the group and turning against each other. Every man for himself. Depending on yourself and not needing anyone else. In Athens many of the people who usually did follow the rules, did not follow the rules or traditions. They did not care about their honor. And due to the fact that there were no laws followed, people had no fear of punishment. Due to that, they felt no regret. Thucydides goes on to talk about human nature and what happens with it in times of war. It is somewhat similar to what happens in the plague. The difference is that people get carried away and lose themselves. In time of war people start to take advantage of other people who are weaker than they are. They commit atrocities against each other like torture. All of these things contributed to the cause of evil which was ambition. The war became a prize and in that prize if people took over something they assumed it was theirs. Usually people fight wars for their country, but in this case they ended up fighting more for the benefit of themselves. Like finding gold for themselves not their country. Taking things for themselves and not for their country. General laws of humanity were gone, and the dark side of human nature took its place.

Thisisa picture of Bear Gryls Surviving by him self

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