These days with an election looming and all the talk about whether or not our democracy is at stake I thought I would take a look at the ‘cradle of democracy’….Greece.

Since it is a Sunday and a good day for me to drop some history and even maybe someone will learn something…..

Remember Socrates?

You know the philosopher that taught Aristotle but what did he think of the idea of ‘democracy’?

Democracy is a form of government in which power is placed in the hands of the people. This can take two main shapes: direct democracy (citizens make decisions themselves) or representative democracy (elected officials make decisions on behalf of the citizens). Most modern democracies operate with some form of representative democracy — such as the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Ancient Greece, however, had a direct democracy; citizens had a direct and active role in the government, but this was easier back then than today because Greek city-states made the population smaller, and the definition of ‘citizen’ was more exclusive.

Socrates was a philosopher from Athens in the fifth century BCE, and he has gone on to be one of the most well-known thinkers of his time. Although he didn’t leave behind any written works of his own, his students kept his legacy alive, and his influence reverberates today. He’s most known for his teaching style — known today as the Socratic Method — wherein a question-and-answer discussion setting is cultivated to stimulate critical thinking. Socrates believed one should be skeptical of everything, and he practiced what he preached regarding democracy. Socrates was an outspoken critic of the Athenian government. Two of his biggest criticisms of democracy concerned the majority rule’s lack of knowledge and the potential for a demagogue. 

(would you like to know more?)

https://www.thecollector.com/how-did-socrates-view-democracy/

Looks like one of Socrates criticisms came true and may come true again….A demagogue is a type of political leader who relies on prejudices, false promises, and charisma to manipulate voters into choosing them. 

Sound familiar?

Was Socrates correct in his criticism?

I think he was pretty spot on and sharp even back then.

Keep Socrates in mind while you search your soul for a vote in November.

Have a good day and hopefully enjoy the rest of your weekend….as always….Be Well and Be Safe….

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”