Fact Check: unlike modern politics, ancient states respected a power that could choose not to conquer everything.

Fact-Check: "Unlike modern politics, ancient states respected a power that could choose not to conquer everything."

What We Know

The claim suggests that ancient political systems exhibited a form of respect for power that refrained from total conquest, contrasting this with modern political practices. Historical analysis indicates that ancient states, particularly in Greece and Rome, often engaged in power politics that included both respect for certain forms of governance and aggressive expansionism.

1. According to a course syllabus from Harvard University, ancient political theory was deeply intertwined with the birth of democracy in ancient Greece, which emphasized civic virtue and the common good, but also involved significant military conquests and territorial expansion.
2. The concept of "might makes right" was prevalent in ancient political thought, as noted in an analysis of ancient vs. modern political thought, which highlights that ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle were aware of the amoral aspects of power politics.
3. In contrast, modern political theory has seen a shift towards the protection of individual rights and liberties, as discussed in an article from NYU, which argues that modern democracies often prioritize individual freedoms over collective power dynamics.

Analysis

The claim that ancient states respected a power that could choose not to conquer everything is partially true. While it is accurate that some ancient political frameworks recognized the value of governance and civic responsibility, this does not negate the reality of their militaristic and expansionist tendencies.

• Supporting Evidence: The ancient Greeks, particularly in city-states like Athens, did engage in democratic practices that valued civic participation and governance. However, this did not preclude them from engaging in wars of conquest, as illustrated by their conflicts with Persia and other city-states. The notion of respecting power is nuanced; it often meant respecting the power of the polis (city-state) rather than a universal moral imperative against conquest.
• Contradicting Evidence: Modern political thought, as articulated by theorists from the Enlightenment onward, emphasizes individual rights and the moral implications of governance. The shift towards recognizing the importance of not just power, but also ethical governance, suggests that modern politics may indeed reflect a more complex relationship with the concept of power than ancient systems did.

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis varies. Academic sources like the Harvard syllabus and NYU article provide scholarly insights, while blog posts and personal essays, such as those found in the blog on ancient vs. modern political thought, may reflect personal interpretations that lack rigorous academic backing.

Conclusion

The claim is Partially True. Ancient political systems did exhibit a form of respect for governance and civic duty, but they were also characterized by aggressive expansionism and power politics. This duality means that while there were elements of respect for power that did not lead to conquest, the overarching trend in ancient politics often favored military might and territorial ambition. In contrast, modern political thought has evolved to prioritize ethical governance and individual rights, suggesting a significant shift in how power is conceptualized and respected.

Sources

1. Ancient and Modern Political Theory: The Dialogue Between ...
2. Democracy's Shapeshifting Past—and Its Uncertain Future
3. Ancient vs. Modern Political Thought
4. The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of Moderns
5. Ancient Geopolitics: Ancient law for modern politics
6. The Influence of Ancient Politics on Modern Political Systems
7. A history of political thought from ancient to modern times
8. Ancient VS Modern Democracy