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BALANCE

Galvanize Greek Base

While I could allow myself such a move against the Barbarians, doing anything similar with Thebes and particularly Athens – home of philosopher kings who believed deep down inside that only they were suited to lead – could prove deadly.

Note that Aristotle and other philosophers believed that the best government was one that was headed by a philosopher king… shocking indeed given his status.

Such thought could actually be traced back to Plato, whose Republic divided society up into three classes: producers, auxiliaries (warriors) and guardians (philosopher kings). Had I not had an Aristotelian education, I would have been cast as an illegitimate heir once again (here we go again). But in many ways, I was both an auxiliary and a guardian.

In fact, Aristotle deplored monarchy in general and accepted it only when personal areté was so great that the virtue of the leader, namely me, was so far greater than that of all the citizens put together.

I bought into this philosophy considerably and was undeterred.

What was required then was a combination of courage and audacity in the face of fear and uncertainty.

By 335 BC, I headed to Thebes and told them that they had the opportunity to change their mind and remain in the confederation. I felt that this was right for Greek culture. They refused to listen to reason. So I had to do what was best for everyone. We annihilated the place for show with the exception of temples and the house of the poet Pindar.

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