Socrates Role In Ancient Athenian Democracy

Ancient Athens was built on a democratic government. A democracy is when a government allows all of its people, no matter what class and how wealthy they are, to vote and agree on their own laws. There are many documents and resources that can prove that Ancient Athens was truly built to be a democratic government.

As a defender of civic virtue, the significance of obligation and authority of one’s representative government epitomizes the magnitude of respect that Socrates had for Athenian Jurisprudence, irrespective of the fact that he was prosecuted against. In the accounts of the Apology and Crito, there exists a plethora of evidence that demonstrate Socrates’s adherence of institutionalized authority. His loyalty of the Athenian State derives from his notion that the obligation to surrender to the law manifests a just society. One may ask, “how is it possible for a persecuted man to continue to profess allegiance to a polity that sought his trial and execution”? Though many would not have the capacity to sustain such integrity, Socrates had his reasons in

Socrates’, Plato’s, and Aristotle’s main criticisms of democracy were based on both theory and precedents. Whereas Plato and Aristotle believed that democracy could lead to mob rule in part due to group-think based on a population’s impulses, Socrates advocated that governance should not be solicited based on the citizenry’s desires at any given time. Aristotle advocated that democracy was indeed the best form of government, or better said he believed democracy to be lesser of the forms of government. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle all believed that only the wisest should govern because those governed might squander resources and wealth, make decisions based on emotion, and revolt due to a perceived or real notion of inequality.

The Thirty Tyrants was the name for the small group of men who overthrew the Athenian democracy to replace it with their own oligarchy form of government, where the few ruled over the many. While Athenian men had previously enjoyed many rights within their city-state, under the rule of the Thirty Tyrants a council of 500 men were assembled to fulfill government roles, while the rest of the citizens were stripped of their rights. While it was clear toward the end of Socrates’ life when the Thirty called upon him to bring in a friend to be tried, he refused the Tyrants, however it is also widely know many of these men had at one point been his pupil and heard his teachings encouraging the belief that when the masses agree about something, they are often wrong.

A reading of Thucydides’, Pericles’ Funeral Oration and The Melian Dialogue uncovers both contrasting and comparable viewpoints on Athenian politics, power, aims of war, and empire. Thucydides presents two differing characteristics of Athens, one as the civilizer in Pericles’ funeral oration and the other as an tyrant in the Melian dialogue. In the funeral oration delivered by Pericles during the first year of the war, the Athenian leader emphasizes the idealized personal image of the Athenians in regard to their constitution and good character. Pericles goes on to praise the Athenian democratic institution of Athens that contributes to their cities greatness; in Pericles’s own words, “The Athenian administration favors the many instead of few… they afford equal justice to all of their differences” (112, 2.37). This quote emphasizes the good character of the Athens’ to coax and encourage the Athenians to preserve and better their great empire into the future. On the other hand, in the Melian dialogue, this notion of justice and equality is irrelevant; one, because Athens compared to Melos, is the stronger of the two and thus, is more powerful. Further, Athens, will continue to acquire absolute power and build its empire by conquering Melos and whomever else stands in its way. Through Pericles’ funeral oration and the Melian dialogue, the following conclusions/themes will demonstrate both the changing and somewhat stable nature of Athenian policy with regards to empire,

During the fifth century bc, Athens had war with Persians, the result of this war had make establishment of democracy to Geek. Acropolis of Athens is an important

Without being either the ones who made this law or the first to apply it after it was laid down, we applied it as one in existence...and one that will endure for all time,” (Thuc., V, 105). The Athenians see no injustice in doing simply as their nature impels them to do. In fact, the Athenians see their offer of subjugation to the Melian people as more than reasonable, “What we will demonstrate is that we are here to help our empire and that there is salvation for your city in what we are now about to say, since we hope to rule over you without trouble and let both parties benefit as you are saved,” (Thuc., V, 91). Following their belief in doing what is necessary to strengthen themselves, even at the expense of others, is what brings Athens to Melos.

On the other hand , he said that an injustice should not be rewarded with another injustice, because it leads to more evil. He mentioned that it is unjustly to escape from prison because this will be breaking the law, but the real meaning is Athens and wrongful death sentence against him, just because he is innocent man and it is more unjustly to death for something which actually you have never did it.

The shaky past of Athens, after the loss of the war against the Spartans and the overthrow of the democracy they loved and fought for caused suspicion in Socrates who had association to Critas, a bloodthirsty tyrant in an oligarchy called the “Thirty Tyrants” From a harmless town character Socrates influence on the youth of Athens was being questioned.

We are able to validate that Socrates is giving up his freedom to become an Athenian citizen. Crito goes to Socrates's prison and tries to persuade him to go through exile because, if he stayed, he would be bolstering his enemies in 'wronging him unjustly' but, Socrates thinks otherwise believing that If he were to flee from prison he would be making himself an outlaw who would disrupt civilization. Arguments arouse between these men dealing with the ideas of majority, the Athenian laws, and life which all come in coalition for what it means to being a good citizen. Furthermore, when Socrates says "Let this be the basis of our deliberation, that neither to do wrong not to return a wrong is ever correct, nor is doing harm in return for harm

Written by the Greek historian Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War is one that tells the story of the war (431-404 BC) which divided the Greek world between Athens and its allies and Lacedaemon. The Melian Dialogue presents two sides and two perspectives that of the Melians neutrality and that of the Athenians’ might. By Thucydides juxtaposing the Athenian’s position to that of the Melians, there is a clear conclusion of which side actions are tactically and morally acceptable. One would argue that the Athenians are immoral for violently plundering the Melian territory because they had the power to do so. However, given the circumstance of trying to defend their empire due to the imbalance of forces, the Athenian actions are not

Reconciliation this word is best described as the action of making one view or belief compatible with another. This is easier said than done. However, reconciliation is the only way to move forward in any situation in life. Athenians must be able to move past the past to get to the future. The Thirty Tyrants left the city in a great divide and now it is the job of the citizens to move past the shambles that the Thirty left the Athenian government in in order to rebuild Athens.

The United States is known for its many liberties to all, liberties that lead to all sorts of bad according to Socrates and Aristotle. Plato-Socrates in The Republic and Aristotle in Politics criticize democracy, a form of government that tries to equalize all. Centuries have passed and many of the democratic elements described in their works apply to current democratic regimes in particular the United States.

Athens is the home of democracy. It is the first known example of where people began to govern themselves. The democracy of Athens slowly developed around 500 BC, during the Classical

As it turns out, it might have been fate that Thrasybulus’s trial ended so quickly, for Athens had much bigger things to worry about. Over the past few weeks, the Persian Empire had attacked a few surrounding city-states, notably Sparta. It was of utmost importance that we discussed what we were going to do about these most unfortunate events. After discussing the problem at hand, it was apparent the members of the Assembly had different ideas of what was the best approach. The Socratics decided Athens needed to worry about itself first and gather its strength before entering yet another war. The Oligarchs agreed that we were not equipped with the proper resources needed to go to war. Many of the citizens also voiced their opinions and did not want to go to war. However, the same citizens voiced concern on lack of defenses if attacked. The Democrats both agreed that it would be wise to try and rebuild some sort of military in case it was needed. However, the Socratics and Oligarchs continued to argue that Athens did not have the means to do so at this time and that building an army would only alarm Sparta and cause them to attack us. Eventually, the Sailor approached the stand with a possible solution to the problem at hand. He suggested that we send out tribute missions to collect money from surrounding city-states as we did before. This money could then be used to fund our military or wall reconstruction. When concern about the safety of such missions was voiced, it