Herodotus Irrationality Of Human Decision-Making

Herodotus believes that human history is far more similar to a game of chance then one would like to think. A series of separate events, a series of dice rolls, merge together into a discernible story. While in his eyes it would be disingenuous to say that mankind makes decisions on the basis of a coin flip, it would be just as mistaken to claim that man is entirely rational. The impulsivity and irrationality of the human mind determined many of the great events in history. His portrayal of Gyges and Candaules and of Darius’ ascension to the throne illustrates his belief in the irrationality of human decision making. Candaules’ demand that his servant Gyges spy on his wife represents a perfect example of irrationality affecting the course of history. There is no logical reason for him to tell Gyges, “‘do as I tell you - contrive to see her naked.’” A rational king would never let his pride, his belief that his wife “was the most beautiful woman on earth,” cloud his reasoning. But Candaules, like most humans, is anything but rational. And the irrationality of his wife eventually undoes him. …show more content…
By forcing Gyges to make such a decision the queen is playing a game of Russian roulette with her kingdom. Herodotus includes this tale of the Lydians partially to show just how actions of an individual decided on a whim such as that of Candaules and his queen, can play a monumental role in shaping the events of a kingdom and