Athenian Democracy at War by David M. Pritchard

Herodotus, Politics and Athenian Democracy

As is widely accepted by scholars, much of the Western philosophies have roots in ancient Greece. Among the most influential ancient Greek figures is the “Father of History,” Herodotus of Halicarnassus, who chronicled the history of the Persian Wars. Herodotus used the Histories as a medium for discussing the political trends of his time, specifically those in Athens. Herodotus shared his views...

A mathematical model of Athenian democracy

A mathematical model of Athenian democracy (594–322 BC) is considered. Indicators of popularity, universality, and goodness are introduced to evaluate single political leaders, the Assembly, the Council of 500, and magistrates. The popularity is a spatial characteristic of representativeness, the average percentage of the population whose opinion is represented on a number of questions. The uni...

Aristotle, the “Good Life,” and Athenian Democracy:

Thucydides on Athens ’ Democratic Advantage in the Archidamian War

In book 1 Thucydides’ Corinthians attribute Athenian military success in the Archidamian war to an inherent national character. They empahsize the characteristics of agility, speed, and common-good seeking. Thucydides’ readers come to realize that the Athenian “democratic advantage” stemmed from a superior capacity to organize useful knowledge. Knowledge management in military affairs can be le...

David Oliver: Is the NHS at war?

What else could explain such repeated economy with the truth from health ministers and the Department of Health’s own “war information ministry” (or press office) when discussing NHS funding, efficiencies, and services? And the supposedly independent NHS England does too little to challenge the misinformation. Propaganda includes confident but incredible assertions and denials, the burying of i...