A Cynical Theory and Wicked Men: The Origins of Classical Realism’s Pessimism and Cynicism

DOI

10.2991/978-2-494069-97-8_56How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Thucydides; Machiavelli; Classical Realism; Human Nature; Morality

Abstract

Classical realism is renowned for the nuanced understanding of international relations without reducing it to a realm of intense power-political competitions for security. It bridges the gap between individuals and international politics by attributing state behaviors to human nature, an unchanging concept transcending time and space. This paper focuses on Thucydides and Machiavelli’s assumptions about human nature and their respective views of morality. Through close interpretations of the History of the Peloponnesian War and the Prince of Thucydides and Machiavelli, the two originators of realist international relations traditions, this paper explores from where classical realism’s pessimism and cynicism derive? Why classical realism possesses a tragic view of world politics? The conflict between morality and the practical necessity of state survival in international politics constitutes another enduring theme in the two books. Thucydides laments the irresolvable tensions between morality and compulsions resulting from “fear, glory and profits,” the three paramount human drives. Likewise, the Prince embodies the most cynical assumptions about the universal wickedness of human nature and the resulting tragic divergence between international politics and morality. Therefore, this paper argues that classical realism’s cynicism and pessimism should not be taken for granted. Instead, they have historical roots in Thucydides’ moral skepticism and Machiavelli’s assumption about the prince’s “wicked subjects.” The cynical theory is an outgrowth and embodiment of the wicked men.

Copyright

© 2023 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Chutao Zhang
PY  - 2023
DA  - 2023/02/13
TI  - A Cynical Theory and Wicked Men: The Origins of Classical Realism’s Pessimism and Cynicism
BT  - Proceedings of the 2022 4th International Conference on Literature, Art and Human Development (ICLAHD 2022)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 448
EP  - 454
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-494069-97-8_56
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-494069-97-8_56
ID  - Zhang2023
ER  -