Athenian Democracy

1488 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Short note on Greek democracy

Ancient Greece’s politics during the time of Socrates’ life [469BC – 399BC] was one that is similar to politics in the United States today. It was one of democracy, where the people ruled the state, where citizens were able to vote on policies to be implemented, and retained certain rights. Democracy is seen as one of the ultimate ideals that modern civilizations strive to create or preserve. It is a system of governance that is supposed to allow extensive representation and include as many people and views as possible to make for a better society. The main democratic principals are ones that strive for universal freedoms, such as the freedom of speech. Though the democracy we see in Ancient Greece had positive attributes it was also faced …show more content…

This statement assumes that all humans are not all of equal value and worth. Some people are better than others and only the highest life is a life worth living, one where a human is enlightened. Socrates does not have the answer as to how this highest form of living is attained, probably because he knows what he does not know and since he has yet to attain such a life he is unable to describe it. Another problem Socrates has with the Athenian Government is not that it is bad, but that it doesn’t take the steps to find out what is good. Socrates likens himself to a gadfly stinging a lazy horse that is the Athenian state; he is the one that is trying to take steps in the direction of good by questioning, but the state is silencing him. Without philosophic inquiry humans are the sleeping horse with no idea what living might really be about. The philosopher is a Gadfly that is stinging the horse, trying to help show the public what it means to really be alive. However, lovers of democracy and freedom do not like to be told that one way of life is better than another. They simply follow the impulse of passions. Is following ones passions really what makes a human free if he never gives serious thought on how a human ought to live? Or if this human never gives thought of the culture and political life of which he was brought into? How is this freedom if there is never any questioning and thinking about what exactly is going on? These questions are the underlying factors behind why Socrates believes the unexamined life is not worth living. For if you don’t examine the state in which you heir wouldn’t that just make you a slave to your state instead of a free man within

Show More
Related

  • Athenian definition of democracy

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    By the fourth century B.C.E. there were hundreds of Greek democracies. Greece was not a single political entity it was a collection of about 1500 separate poleis or cities scattered around the Mediterranean and black sea shores. The cities that were not democracies were either oligarchies or monarchies (often times called tyrannies). Of the democracies, the oldest, the most stable, the most long-lived, and the most radical, was Athens.

    Read More

  • Dbq: Ancient Greek Contributions

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    One important contribution of Ancient Greek to the Western Culture is Democracy. The very term itself is of Greek derivation, meaning "People’s Rule". Unlike modern states which call themselves "Democratic". For example, Pericles Funeral Oration gave the greatest contribution to our today’s society. In .(Doc. 2) Pericles stated "Our plan of government favors the many instead of the few". Because of this quote it has contributed the society tremendously due to the fact that the democratic society is a direct democracy. Yet in a way, people have the power to overthrow other powerful representatives; Pericles Funeral Oration, gave us the idea of keeping the civilization as a democracy rather than Oligarchy, Monarchy, and many more. Moreover, Solon an Athenian tyrant discussed his thought about democracy. In .(doc. 4) Solon stated, "I drew up laws for bad and good alike, and set straight justice over each". Solon reveals that he has created laws for the good of others. He wanted every individual having the ...

    Read More

  • The Role Of Freedom In Plato's Crito

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates, counters with “Then should not the good ones be honored and not the bad ones?”(CR 41). In America’s sense of love and what binds them together, without justice everyone’s opinions and prerogatives would be acceptable and freedom would be king. If someone felt it was write to take something from another person because they wanted it, they would have the freedom to do so because that is there opinion. What would be considered right and wrong is a matter of opinion. With complete freedom and freedom alone, we could murder one another’s families, steal and pillage. Soon after, he argues “So then is the body livable for us after it is bad and ruined?” (CR 42). At the worst in this means collapse of society, we cannot truly live in a society after it is ruined and in dismay. With the chaos of complete freedom, it would be hard to imagine thriving or even existing. As is said before, in complete freedom, someone can take whatever they please from another, they can pillage and hurt others. If we see society as a body, if everyone is in dismay because their families have been stolen from or hurt, we could not possibly live in such a society. If we ruin one others things and qualities of living by breaking doors and windows of stores and homes, no one can survive there as it is “bad and ruined” (CR 42). In Socrates’ world, only the opinions and actions of the just would be honored. We would be free to go about whatever we please as long as it was just. Nothing just would include murder or crime, and society would be fine at the bear

    Read More

  • Democracy Outlined by Plato and Aristotle

    920 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the fifth-century BC, Athens emerged as one of the most advanced state or polis in all of Greece. This formation of Athenian ‘democracy’ holds the main principle that citizens should enjoy political equality in order to be free to rule and be ruled in turn. The word ‘democracy’ originates from the Greek words demos (meaning people) and kratos (meaning power) therefore demokratia means “the power of the people.” The famous funeral speech of Pericles states that “Our constitution is called democracy because power is in the hands not of a minority but of the whole people.” However, only citizens (free adult men of Athenian descent) could participate in political matters. Women and slaves held no political rights, although they were essential in order to free up time for the citizens to participate in the matters of the state. The development of Athenian democracy has been fundamental for the basis of modern political thinking, although many in modern society UK would be sceptical to call it a democracy. Plato and Aristotle in The Republic and The Politics respectively were critical of the Athenian democracy, by examining the culture and ideology present the limitations and possible downfalls of a democratic way of life. Within this essay I will outline these limitations and evaluate their validity.

    Read More

  • Morality and Laws in The Trial and Death of Socrates

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates follows by explaining what is taught to each citizen. You are told that you were born with certain laws. Your father and mother brought you to the world in which they live and thus you should respect and obey by their rules. The laws were already there. That means, that your mother and father are as important as the city and you should respect the city as so.

    Read More

  • Plato Republic Democracy

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    Truth be told there is no real justice in Socrates? ?just city?. Servitude of those within his city is crucial to its function. His citizens are, in every aspect, slaves to the functionality of a city that is not truly their own. True justice can not be achieved through slavery and servitude, that which appears to be justice (and all for the sake of appearances) is all that is achieved. Within Socrates? city there is no room for identity, individuality, equality, or freedom, which are the foundations justice was built upon. These foundations are upheld within a proper democracy. In fact, the closest one can experience justice, on a political level, is through democracy.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Socrates And Thomas Hobbes

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    If Socrates was such a constant critic of the government, then why did he never question the Athenian government what his rights as a citizen were? Socrates’ claimed he was “gadfly” who “was attached to this city by the god” (30e) but he never critiqued what the implications of the relationship between the government and citizens were. In Socrates’ perspective, if one chooses to live in Athens, then one is implicitly agreeing and abiding the Laws of Athens (52b.) Although Hobbes’ may agree with this point to some extent, the sole intent of a covenant in which “every man should say to every man ‘I authorize and give up my right of governing myself to this man’” (109) was to protect oneself from harm/death. For Hobbes, the relationship between government and citizens was mutual; the government would acquire power and authority only if citizens were guaranteed protection and defense. For Socrates, the relationship between government and citizens was one-sided; the government should have complete dominance and citizens should blindly obey the government’s commands if one is unable to persuade the government on how to rule. For this reason, Socrates’ had no care for his self-preservation as he was only concerned with the government’s best

    Read More

  • How Effective was Athenian Democracy?

    1945 Words  | 4 Pages

    Between the years of 508 BCE and 322 CE, Greece flourished under democracy. However, some question if the flourishing of Athens is due to the democracy that was in place as opposed to other factors relevant in building a successful community. This investigation will examine the effectiveness of Athenian democracy in Greek society. Relevance of Athenian democracy can be seen in foundation of many democracies found worldwide. In this investigation the right to vote, protection of minorities, use of social class, the structure of democracy and how Greek democracy has influenced the world will be addressed. The place investigated will be Greece, specifically the capitol Athens. The effectiveness of Athenian democracy can be seen in social structure, protection of minorities, and right to vote, as well as its structure and influence of other countries around the world.

    Read More

  • Ancient Greek Government Essay

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion one could say we may live in a very different and much more complex global world, but the reality is without the ancient Greeks we wouldn’t have the government structure that we currently enjoy today. The truth and reality is that by the time Aristotle even came into play in history there had already been a large amount of Greek democracies already in existence. The foundations that the Ancient Greeks laid and more importantly the political foundation that the Athenians created had an everlasting imprint on how the democratic structure has taken shape in European countries as well as in the United States.

    Read More

  • Socrates Argument in the Crito

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates reaches a conclusion that defies a common-sense understanding of justice. Nothing about his death sentence “seems” just, but after further consideration, we find that his escape would be as fruitless as his death, and that in some sense, Socrates owes his obedience to whatever orders Athens gives him since he has benefited from his citizenship.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Between Socrates And Buddhism

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates focuses his philosophy on life entirely on the discovery of knowledge and wisdom, ethics, and the soul. He was obsessed with seeking of knowledge and wisdom: he believed that they are the key to a good life. He went on to state that, “an unexamined life, is a life not worth living.” According to him, knowledge and wisdom correlate to ethical actions, ultimately resulting in a life of happiness, by

    Read More

  • Essay On Ancient Greek Democracy

    1224 Words  | 3 Pages

    Democracy was a revolutionary development for the Ancient Greek society it was an innovative idea which gave the citizens of Ancient Greeks the freedom to participate in the governmental system and contribute in the processes and decisions, this in turn helped Ancient Greece succeed politically and economically. This democratic society not only helped Greece succeed in the Mediterranean region but also influenced modern day society. The Ancient Greeks succeeded significantly and were highly advanced for this period, the progressive thoughts and ideas demonstrated by individuals in this society contributed to the development of democracy in Athens which has become one of the most beneficial forms of government created.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Concepts of Seeming and Being in Relation to Political Power and Leadership in The Prince and The Republic

    2993 Words  | 6 Pages

    The citizens of Socrates’ Republic are divided into three classes. Those who are deemed fit to rule, the philosopher/rulers, are those who have been chosen to pass through several stages of training and preparation. They are the most fit to rule, because the...

    Read More

  • Athenian Democracy and Pericles

    3286 Words  | 7 Pages

    Raaflaub, Kurt A., and Josiah Ober. Origins of democracy in ancient Greece. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007.

    Read More

  • Essay On Ancient Greek Democracy

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Greeks system of democracy was an entirely new concept when it was created, and one that has had lasting affects as it continues to influence present day politics around the globe. Modern day democracies may very well not exist if it wasn’t for the success the Athenians had with democracy. Today we look back at these ancient civilizations and we try to better our current society by learning from their mistakes and building on their success.

    Read More

More about Athenian Democracy

Open Document