Does might make right?

The criminals Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin both believe that might is right. The whole question fascinated the ancient Greeks.

 In his famous history of the long war between Athens and Sparta (431-404 bc), Thucydides (d. c. 400 bc) explored the question through speeches on both sides, but on one occasion – when Athens demanded the surrender of the small island of Melos – he put it in the form of a debate. Here is an edited sample, strangely apposite too:

Ath: You know as well as we do that, in the real world, justice comes into it only between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak have to comply.

Mel: But we think it is to our advantage – we speak as we must, since you compel us to forget about justice and talk only of interests – that you should not destroy a universal good, that is, for those in danger to invoke what is fair and right. This applies no less to you, as your fall would entail the heaviest vengeance.

Ath: … We want to make clear to you that we are here in the interests of our own empire, yes; but what we shall say is designed to save your own city. We wish to take you under our rule without trouble: it is in both our interests that you should survive.

Mel: And would it be an advantage for us to be enslaved as much as for you to rule over us?

Ath: Certainly, because we both benefit: you by surrendering before experiencing the worst of consequences, and we by your survival.

Mel: So you would not consent to our being friends rather than enemies, allies of neither side?

Ath: No: to our subjects, friendship signals weakness, and your hatred, proof of our power… This is not a noble struggle between equals.