The Peloponnesian Persuasion. The Corinthian Argument to the Spartans on the Necessity of War. From Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War.

While the title of this paper may not stir the hearts of men faced with war, The Corinthian debate to the Spartans evoked more sentiment and conviction and has stood the test of time of time as a call to arms. As the Spartans and the Peloponnesian League were debating a war that one Greek historian believed to be, "a great war, and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it (I.1.1)," one …

…of states' individuality combined with a passionate sense of human freedom worked skillfully to bring about a cherished tool of any collective body: a majority vote. Whether or not it was the idea of war or the convictions of the Corinthians that persuaded the end vote has long been and will continue to be debated, but the future will always be reminded by their argument that sometimes it is the words that induce the action.