The Blinded Eye - Thucydides and the New Written Word

Thucydides, the patron saint of Realpolitik, continues to be read in many fields outside of classics. Why did his History succeed in setting the pattern for future scholars where Hereodotus's earlier Histories failed? In this fascinating study of the construction of intellectual authority, Gregory Crane argues that Thucydides was successful for two reasons. First, he refined the language of administration: Who was in charge? How much money was spent? How many people were killed? Second, he drew upon the abstract philosophical rhetoric developing in the fifth century, one in which the state and the public, rather than the family and the individual, stand at the center of the world. Ironically, it was through deeply personal alliances that aristocratic Greeks had defined themselves and exerted power. Thucydides's discursive practice was therefore fundamentally incompatible with his ideological goals.

About the author

By Gregory Crane

Summary

This study of the construction of intellectual authority examines the impact of Thucydides's "History". It argues that Thucydides's work succeeded for two main reasons: he refined the language of administration, and drew upon the abstract philosophical rhetoric that arose in the 5th century.

Product details

• Authors: Gregory Crane, Crane Gregory
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 27.12.1995
• EAN: 9780847681297
• ISBN: 978-0-8476-8129-7
• Dimensions: 164 mm x 231 mm x 21 mm
• Weight: 553 g
• Series: Greek Studies: Interdisciplinary Approaches; Greek Studies: Interdisciplina; Greek Studies: Interdisciplinary Approaches; Greek Studies: Interdisciplina
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; European History, HISTORY / Europe / General, Ancient Greece, LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, HISTORY / Ancient / Greece, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Ancient History, Ancient history: to c 500 CE, Ancient (Classical) Greek, Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500