Democrazy? Why Socrates hated democracy
Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, and as being the first moral philosopher, of the Western ethical tradition of thought.
It is argued that Socrates believed "ideals belong in a world only the wise man can understand", making the philosopher the only type of person suitable to govern others. In Plato's dialogue the Republic, Socrates openly objected to the democracy that ran Athens during his adult life. It was not only Athenian democracy: Socrates found short of ideal any government that did not conform to his presentation of a perfect regime led by philosophers, and Athenian government was far from that. It is, however, possible that the Socrates of Plato's Republic is colored by Plato's own views.
We’re used to thinking hugely well of democracy. But interestingly, one of the wisest people who ever lived, Socrates, had deep suspicions of it. For gifts and more from The School of Life, visit our online shop: https://goo.gl/mQYmze. Join our exclusive mailing list: http://bit.ly/2e0TQNJ. Or visit us in person at our London HQ: https://goo.gl/8UR9P5. Download our App: https://goo.gl/hjJSjx.
SOURCES:
Why Socrates Hated Democracy. The School of Life. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7IcJI8PUf5Z3zKxnZvTBog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJBzhcSWTk
Socrates. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates#Politics
James Rachels. The Legacy of Socrates: Essays in Moral Philosophy Columbia University Press, 2007. ISBN 023113844X. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ek67okpYfyMC&dq=Socrates+and+moral+philosophy&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Gregory Vlastos (1991). Socrates, Ironist and Moral Philosopher. Cornell University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-8014-9787-2. https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=7mRK29WRocoC&redir_esc=y
It is argued that Socrates believed "ideals belong in a world only the wise man can understand", making the philosopher the only type of person suitable to govern others. In Plato's dialogue the Republic, Socrates openly objected to the democracy that ran Athens during his adult life. It was not only Athenian democracy: Socrates found short of ideal any government that did not conform to his presentation of a perfect regime led by philosophers, and Athenian government was far from that. It is, however, possible that the Socrates of Plato's Republic is colored by Plato's own views.
We’re used to thinking hugely well of democracy. But interestingly, one of the wisest people who ever lived, Socrates, had deep suspicions of it. For gifts and more from The School of Life, visit our online shop: https://goo.gl/mQYmze. Join our exclusive mailing list: http://bit.ly/2e0TQNJ. Or visit us in person at our London HQ: https://goo.gl/8UR9P5. Download our App: https://goo.gl/hjJSjx.
SOURCES:
Why Socrates Hated Democracy. The School of Life. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7IcJI8PUf5Z3zKxnZvTBog. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLJBzhcSWTk
Socrates. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates#Politics
James Rachels. The Legacy of Socrates: Essays in Moral Philosophy Columbia University Press, 2007. ISBN 023113844X. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ek67okpYfyMC&dq=Socrates+and+moral+philosophy&source=gbs_navlinks_s
Gregory Vlastos (1991). Socrates, Ironist and Moral Philosopher. Cornell University Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-8014-9787-2. https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=7mRK29WRocoC&redir_esc=y
