Why Did Socrates Hate Democracy?

We've come to regard democracy - and, by extension, Ancient Athens, the civilization that gave birth to it – with great admiration. The Parthenon has nearly become a byword for democratic ideas, which is why so many democratic leaders enjoy having their portraits taken among its ruins.

As a result, it's surprising to learn that one of Ancient Greece's greatest achievements, Philosophy, was distrustful of its other great triumph, Democracy.

Who was Socrates?

Socrates of Athens (c. 470/469-399 BCE) is one of the most well-known personalities in history for his contributions to the development of ancient Greek philosophy, which laid the groundwork for all of Western philosophy. For this reason, he is renowned as the "Father of Western Philosophy."

Plato (c. 428/427-348/347 BCE), his most renowned student, would honor him by establishing a school in Athens (Plato's Academy) and, more importantly, by writing philosophical dialogues with Socrates as the prominent character. The question of whether Plato's dialogues truly portray Socrates' teachings is still being disputed, but a conclusive answer is improbable. 

Aristotle of Stagira (l. 384-322 BCE) was Plato's most famous student, and he went on to educate Alexander the Great (l. 356-323 BCE) and found his own school. During and after Alexander's conquests, Greek philosophy, as first formulated by Socrates, was diffused throughout the known world.

Why Did Socrates Hate Democracy?

Plato claims in the Republic that Socrates was arguing (or rather, lecturing on) the essence of the ideal state. At one point, he asks his colleague Adeimantus who he would rather have in charge of a naval voyage. Is it a random passenger or a captain who has been well-trained, educated, and experienced? 

Socrates extends the metaphor to the state once the captain is chosen as the obvious choice, asking why we would allow anyone to manage the ship of state. He then goes on to advocate a totalitarian regime as the perfect state, in which all rulers have spent decades learning how to rule before assuming absolute control.

Plato depicts Socrates having a talk with a character named Adeimantus and attempting to persuade him of the drawbacks of democracy by comparing a society to a ship in Book Six of The Republic. Socrates wonders who you would wish to choose as captain of the ship if you were embarking on a voyage by sea. Anyone, or only those who have been educated in the rules and needs of seafaring? Of course, argues Adeimantus, so why, asks Socrates, do we continue to believe that any old person is capable of deciding who should be a ruler of a country?

Socrates is arguing that voting in an election is a talent, not a gut feeling. And, like any other skill, it must be taught to people in a systematic manner. Allowing citizens to vote without having received an education is equivalent to putting them in control of a trireme sailing to Samos in a storm.

The louche image of Alcibiades, a rich, charismatic, smooth-talking wealthy man who destroyed basic freedoms and helped lead Athens to her disastrous military exploits in Sicily, was a traumatic experience for ancient Athens. Socrates was well aware of how easily candidates for office may take advantage of our yearning for simple solutions. Imagine an election discussion between two candidates, one dressed as a doctor and the other dressed as a confectionery shop owner. When it comes to his competitor, the sweet store owner would say:

Look, this individual has done a lot of bad things to you. He injures you, offers you unpleasant concoctions, and tells you that you are not allowed to eat or drink what you want. He'll never prepare you a feast of different and varied delicacies.

Socrates suggests that we evaluate the reaction of the audience:

Do you believe the doctor will be able to respond appropriately? Isn't it true that the genuine answer – 'I give you problems and go against your wishes in order to aid you' – would generate a ruckus among the electorate?

Democracy, on the other hand, was regarded by Aristotle as a failing version of popular rule. In his opinion, "timocracy," or control by the wealthy, or even a more constitutional version of republican government, was the best type of governance by the people. He would have perceived Athens as a deteriorating city that was moving away from Solon's original 'timocratic' constitution.

Later, more liberal philosophers endorsed the notion that democracy is fundamentally defective. "Almost nothing remarkable has ever been done in the world except by the talent and firmness of a single individual overcoming the prejudices of the multitude," Voltaire said Catharine the Great of Russia, who backed all of the liberal freedoms of speech and religion. His

We have completely forgotten Socrates' important cautions against democracy. We've always thought of democracy as an unmistakable ideal, rather than a process that is only as good as the education system that surrounds it. As a result, we've elected a lot of candy store owners and a lot of doctors.

Written By - Kritika Sharma