ABSTRACT
In his treatment of contemporary events the standard of Thucydides is as strictly scientific as the nature of the subject permits. Although Thucydides had never heard the words “subjective” and “objective,” he understood the distinction tolerably well. Standing where he did, Thucydides could not have anticipated such a development in scientific scepticism, and he accepted without suspicion what only comparative ethnography and philology have taught to suspect. Thucydides will not reject any tradition, except in so far as it conflicts with probability. He is sensible that most matters relating to early ages, “through the lapse of time, have won their way to the region of fable.” It is, of course, inevitable that the History of Thucydides should differ in some respects from the works of modern historians. Taken in the bulk, the speeches form the philosophy of the History, as distinct from the facts; and, whatever their “documentary” value, they are, beyond question, an invaluable storehouse of political thought.
