Why Socrates Hated Democracy

Summary

The video script explores the contrasting views of Ancient Greek philosophy, particularly Socrates, towards democracy. It highlights how Socrates, portrayed by Plato, was skeptical about the democratic process, advocating for an educated electorate over one based on birthright. Socrates believed that voting is a skill that requires systematic teaching, and without education, it's irresponsible to allow citizens to vote. His tragic execution in 399 BC exemplifies the perils of an uneducated electorate. The script also warns against demagoguery, a system feared by the Greeks, and the dangers of electing charismatic but unscrupulous leaders. It concludes by reflecting on the modern preference for democracy as an unqualified good, rather than recognizing its effectiveness is contingent on the education of its participants, leading to the metaphorical election of 'sweet shop owners' over 'doctors'.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Democracy is highly regarded, and Ancient Athens, its originator, is often symbolized by the Parthenon.
• 🤔 Greek Philosophy, particularly Socrates, was skeptical about democracy, viewing it as flawed.
• 🚢 In Plato's 'The Republic', Socrates uses the analogy of a ship to argue that leadership should be based on knowledge and education, not just any person's intuition.
• 📚 Socrates believed that voting is a skill that requires systematic teaching, similar to any other skill.
• 🚫 Allowing uneducated citizens to vote is considered irresponsible by Socrates, likening it to putting them in charge of a ship in a storm.
• 📉 Socrates experienced the negative consequences of democracy firsthand when he was wrongly convicted and sentenced to death by a jury of his peers.
• 🧠 Socrates advocated for an intellectual democracy, where only those who have thought deeply and rationally about issues should vote.
• 👥 He was not against the idea of many people voting, but rather against birthright democracy without the connection to wisdom.
• 🔍 Socrates warned against demagoguery, a system feared by the Greeks, which could arise from the unchecked power of the uneducated masses.
• 💬 He illustrated the dangers of demagoguery with an election debate analogy, where a 'sweet shop owner' would appeal more to the masses than a 'doctor' with difficult truths.
• 🗳️ The script suggests that modern societies have expanded voting rights without ensuring a corresponding level of education and wisdom, leading to the election of 'sweet shop owners' over 'doctors'.

Q & A

Why is the Parthenon often associated with democratic values?

The Parthenon is associated with democratic values because it is a symbol of Ancient Athens, the civilization that is credited with the birth of democracy. Many leaders of democracies like to be photographed there to symbolize their commitment to democratic principles.

How did Socrates view the concept of democracy?

Socrates, as portrayed in Plato's dialogues, was highly pessimistic about democracy. He believed that the ability to vote in an election is a skill that requires systematic education, rather than an innate intuition available to all.

What analogy does Socrates use to explain his skepticism about democracy?

Socrates uses the analogy of a ship to explain his skepticism. He questions whether one would want just anyone or someone educated in the rules and demands of seafaring to be in charge of a vessel, implying that the same standard should apply to the rulers of a country.

What was the tragic event that Socrates experienced, which highlighted the flaws of democracy?

In 399 BC, Socrates was put on trial on charges of corrupting the youth of Athens. A jury of 500 Athenians found him guilty by a narrow margin and sentenced him to death by hemlock, demonstrating the potential for foolishness in democratic voting.

What was Socrates' stance on who should be allowed to vote?

Socrates was not elitist in the sense that he did not believe only a few should vote. However, he insisted that only those who had thought about issues rationally and deeply should be allowed to participate in voting.

What is the distinction Socrates made between an intellectual democracy and a democracy by birthright?

Socrates distinguished between an intellectual democracy, where the right to vote is connected to wisdom and rational thought, and a democracy by birthright, where the vote is given to all without regard to wisdom or understanding.

What did Socrates warn about the dangers of not linking voting rights to wisdom?

Socrates warned that not linking voting rights to wisdom could lead to demagoguery, a system where charismatic leaders exploit the desires of the people for easy answers, often at the expense of their true well-being.

Who is Alcibiades, and how is he an example of a demagogue?

Alcibiades was a wealthy, charismatic figure in Ancient Athens who eroded basic freedoms and led the city into disastrous military adventures in Sicily. He is an example of a demagogue because he used his charm and persuasive speech to gain power and influence, despite the negative consequences for the state.

How does Socrates illustrate the challenge a rational candidate might face in an election debate?

Socrates illustrates this challenge by imagining an election debate between a doctor and a sweet shop owner. The sweet shop owner promises pleasant things and criticizes the doctor for causing trouble and going against the people's desires. The doctor's truthful but unpopular stance of causing short-term discomfort for long-term benefit would likely not resonate well with the voters.

What is the implication of the 'sweet shop owner' metaphor in the context of democracy?

The 'sweet shop owner' metaphor implies that in a democracy, candidates who promise immediate pleasure and avoid hard truths can be more appealing to the electorate than those who offer difficult but necessary solutions, leading to the election of leaders who may not have the best interests of the people at heart.

How does the script suggest we have failed in our approach to democracy?

The script suggests that we have failed by treating democracy as an unambiguous good without considering the importance of an educated electorate. By giving the vote to all without connecting it to wisdom, we risk electing leaders who are more like 'sweet shop owners' rather than 'doctors' who make tough decisions for the greater good.

What is the script's call to action for the modern understanding of democracy?

The script calls for a reevaluation of our understanding of democracy, emphasizing the need to prioritize education and wisdom in the electorate. It suggests that the effectiveness of democracy is directly tied to the quality of the education system and the public's ability to make informed decisions.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The Paradox of Democracy and Philosophy

This paragraph discusses the high regard in which democracy is held, particularly in relation to Ancient Athens, and the iconic status of the Parthenon as a symbol of democratic values. However, it contrasts this with the skepticism of Socrates, the father of Greek Philosophy, towards democracy. Socrates, as depicted by Plato, argues that democracy is flawed because it allows uneducated citizens to make critical decisions about governance, likening it to putting untrained individuals in charge of a ship. He advocates for an educated electorate and warns against the dangers of demagoguery, which he illustrates with the example of Alcibiades. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the modern disconnect between the right to vote and the wisdom required to make informed decisions, suggesting that this has led to the election of leaders more akin to 'sweet shop owners' rather than 'doctors'.

Keywords

💡Democracy

Democracy refers to a system of government where power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. The script highlights this concept through the prism of Ancient Athens, which is known as the birthplace of democracy. However, it also presents a critique through the eyes of Socrates, who questioned the wisdom of letting uneducated masses make crucial decisions about leadership, likening it to unskilled passengers deciding who should steer a ship.

💡Philosophy

Philosophy in the context of the script refers to the discipline of rigorous and critical thinking, questioning, and analysis of fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language. The text discusses how Greek philosophy, especially through figures like Socrates, offered a critical perspective on the practice of democracy in Athens, advocating for a more educated electorate.

💡Socrates

Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. In the script, he is portrayed discussing democracy's flaws, arguing that only those who have thought about issues 'rationally and deeply' should vote. His trial and subsequent execution illustrate the dangers of democratic decisions made by poorly informed electorates.

💡The Republic

The Republic is a Socratic dialogue, written by Plato around 380 BC, concerning justice, the order and character of the just city-state, and the just man. The script references this work to discuss Socrates' views on democracy, where he uses the analogy of a ship's captain to critique the rationale behind democratic decision-making.

💡Demagoguery

Demagoguery involves appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than using rational argument. The script uses the example of Alcibiades, an Athenian leader who manipulated public opinion for personal gain, to illustrate the dangers of demagoguery, which Socrates predicted as a pitfall of democracy without a wise electorate.

💡Education

Education in this context refers to the preparation and enlightenment of the electorate necessary for competent decision-making in a democracy. The script underscores Socrates' belief that like any skill, voting requires systematic education; otherwise, it's as irresponsible as letting uneducated people manage a ship during a storm.

💡Intellectual democracy

Intellectual democracy is contrasted with democracy by birthright in the script. It is a form of governance where the right to vote is linked to an individual's rational and deep consideration of issues, as advocated by Socrates, rather than simply being a right afforded to all citizens by virtue of their birth.

💡Trial of Socrates

The trial of Socrates in 399 BC is a pivotal event discussed in the script, where Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and sentenced to death by hemlock. This event is used to illustrate the potential failings of democracy, where an uninformed electorate can make catastrophic decisions.

💡Alcibiades

Alcibiades was a prominent Athenian statesman, orator, and general. The script mentions him as a demagogue who used his charisma and wealth to influence Athenian politics negatively, leading to disastrous military ventures and erosion of freedoms, highlighting the risks of charismatic leadership in a flawed democratic system.

💡Voting

Voting is the act of expressing a choice or preference in a formal decision-making process, typically in elections for governing officials. The script discusses voting as a skill that should be systematically taught, using Socrates' view that not everyone should automatically be qualified to vote without proper educational groundwork.

Highlights

Democracy's roots in Ancient Athens are closely tied to the values symbolized by the Parthenon.

Philosophy, a major Greek achievement, was critically skeptical of another achievement, Democracy.

Socrates, the founding father of Greek Philosophy, expressed profound skepticism about democracy.

In 'The Republic', Plato's Socrates uses the analogy of a ship to question democracy's effectiveness.

Socrates challenges the notion of unskilled decision-making in choosing a ruler, emphasizing the need for educated voters.

Voting is described by Socrates as a skill that requires systematic education.

Socrates experienced the flaws of democracy firsthand when he was wrongly condemned by Athenian voters.

His trial and death highlight the potential dangers of uninformed democratic decision-making.

Socrates was not elitist but advocated for intellectual democracy, where voting is linked to rational and deep consideration.

The distinction between intellectual democracy and democracy by birthright has been forgotten.

Socrates predicted demagoguery as a result of disconnecting wisdom from voting rights.

Alcibiades' example shows how demagogues can exploit democratic freedoms for personal gain.

Socrates compares electoral candidates to a doctor and a sweet shop owner, highlighting the challenge of responsible leadership.

The sweet shop owner analogy illustrates how populist candidates can manipulate voter desires.

Socrates' warnings underline democracy's dependence on the quality of the surrounding education system.

Many leaders resembling sweet shop owners have been elected due to the lack of educational prerequisites for voters.

Transcripts

We are used to thinking very highly of democracy – and by extension, of Ancient Athens, the

civilisation that gave rise to it. The Parthenon has become almost a byword for democratic

values, which is why so many leaders of democracies like to be photographed there.

It’s therefore very striking to discover that one of Ancient Greece’s great achievements,

Philosophy, was highly suspicious of its other achievement, Democracy.

The founding father of Greek Philosophy – Socrates – is portrayed, in the dialogues of Plato, as hugely pessimistic

about the whole business of democracy. In Book Six of The Republic, Plato describes

Socrates falling into conversation with a character called Adeimantus and trying to

get him to see the flaws of democracy by comparing a society to a ship. If you were heading out

on a journey by sea, asks Socrates, who would you ideally want deciding who was in charge

of the vessel? Just anyone or people educated in the rules and demands of seafaring? The

latter of course, says Adeimantus, so why then, responds Socrates, do we keep thinking

that any old person should be fit to judge who should be a ruler of a country? Socrates’s

point is that voting in an election is a skill, not a random intuition. And like any skill,

it needs to be taught systematically to people. Letting the citizenry vote without an education

is as irresponsible as putting them in charge of a trireme sailing to Samos in a storm.

Socrates was to have first hand, catastrophic experience of the foolishness of voters. In

399 BC, the philosopher was put on trial on trumped up charges of corrupting the youth

of Athens. A jury of 500 Athenians was invited to weigh up the case and decided by a narrow

margin that the philosopher was guilty. He was put to death by hemlock in a process which

is, for thinking people, every bit as tragic as Jesus’s condemnation has been for Christians.

Crucially, Socrates was not elitist in the normal sense. He didn’t believe that a narrow

few should only ever vote. He did, however, insist that only those who had thought about

issues rationally and deeply should be let near a vote. We have forgotten this distinction

between an intellectual democracy and a democracy by birthright. We have given the vote to all

without connecting it to wisdom. And Socrates knew exactly where that would lead:

to a system the Greeks feared above all, demagoguery.

Ancient Athens had painful experience of demagogues, for example, the louche figure of Alcibiades,

a rich, charismatic, smooth-talking wealthy man who eroded basic freedoms and helped to

push Athens to its disastrous military adventures in Sicily. Socrates knew how easily people

seeking election could exploit our desire for easy answers. He asked us to imagine an

election debate between two candidates, one who was like a doctor and the other who was

like a sweet shop owner. The sweet shop owner would say of his rival: Look, this person

here has worked many evils on you. He hurts you, gives you bitter potions and tells you

he not to eat and drink whatever you like. He’ll never serve you feasts of many and varied

pleasant things like I will. Socrates asks us to consider the audience response: Do you

think the doctor would be able to reply effectively? The true answer – ‘I cause you trouble,

and go against you desires in order to help you’ would cause an uproar among the voters,

don’t you think? We have forgotten all about Socrates’s salient warnings against democracy.

We have preferred to think of democracy as an unambiguous good – rather than as something

that is only ever as effective as the education system that surrounds it. As a result, we

have elected many sweet shop owners, and very few doctors.