Pericles' Funeral Oration by Thucydides

Pericles' funeral oration from Thucydides' History of the Pelopponnesian War has many overlapping themes with ancient just war theory, even though it does not address it directly.

Pericles starts his oration with discussing the honor that a public funeral holds for the slain soldiers. "But I should have preferred that, when men's deeds have been brave, they should be honored in deed only, and with such an honor as this public funeral, which you are now witnessing" (Thucydides). By framing a public funeral as a place to honor dead soldiers Pericles is effectively asserting the soldiers should be honored for going to war and that is some way their action were just.

Next, Pericles talks about their Athenian ancestors that also died in effort to create the Athenian city state that everyone is currently enjoying. "There has never been a time when they did not inhabit this land, which by their valor they will have handed down from generation to generation, and we have received from them a free state. But if they were worthy of praise, still more were our fathers, who added to their inheritance, and after many a struggle transmitted to us their sons this great empire" (Thucydides). Pericles is essentially justifying the action of his ancestors that fought for the free city state of Athens. As I have discussed before, fighting for freedom and peace is part of the ancient just war rhetoric. Augustine, Aristotle, and Cicero all see fighting for freedom and peace as a just cause in going to war.

Pericles also mentions the altruism of the Athenian city state that makes them righteous in preserving their way of life through war."Our form of government does not enter into rivalry with the institutions of others. Our government does not copy our neighbors', but is an example to them. It is true that we are called a democracy, for the administration is in the hands of the many and not of the few. But while there exists equal justice to all and alike in their private disputes, the claim of excellence is also recognized; and when a citizen is in any way distinguished, he is preferred to the public service, not as a matter of privilege, but as the reward of merit" (Thucydides). With this quote, Pericles is telling the funeral goers how great and just Athens is and that this in some way justifies the men that died in war to protect the Athenian way of life. This is gray area in the classical just war theories. The ancient authors did not expressly say that preserving a good way of life is a just cause in going to war. Defensive wars are permitted and preserving peace and freedom are also just causes. It seems as though Pericles is insinuating that preserving the Athenian way of life is a just cause in war for the simple reason that Athens is a just society.

Pericles also mentions the superiority of the Athenian army and that they fight in a just manner. "Then, again, our military training is in many respects superior to that of our adversaries...We rely not upon management or trickery, but upon our own hearts and hands" (Thucydides). This quote shows that Athenian warriors fight fairly, which is a very important part of just war theory. To fight a just war, they must fight with proper force against their enemies and show them mercy where necessary.

The main theme of Pericles' funeral oration is that war is just if you are fighting for a just and great society. Pericles asserts that these warriors have died defending the great city of Athens and that this is an honor and a just thing to do. "I have dwelt upon the greatness of Athens because I want to show you that we are contending for a higher prize than those who enjoy none of these privileges, and to establish by manifest proof the merit of these men whom I am now commemorating" (Thucydides). Although it may be a bit of a stretch, Pericles' funeral oration puts an interesting spin on the classical idea of just war theory.