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Democracy Overview

This document discusses the origins and key aspects of democracy. It covers: - The earliest forms of democracy emerging in Ancient Greece under rulers like Solon and Cleisthenes, though not all inhabitants were considered citizens. - Important philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle helped develop and debate ideas of democracy through their writings and teachings. - Key events and thinkers that helped shaped modern democracy over centuries, such as the Magna Carta, English Civil War, American and French Revolutions.

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Seema Das
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39 views

Democracy Overview

This document discusses the origins and key aspects of democracy. It covers: - The earliest forms of democracy emerging in Ancient Greece under rulers like Solon and Cleisthenes, though not all inhabitants were considered citizens. - Important philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle helped develop and debate ideas of democracy through their writings and teachings. - Key events and thinkers that helped shaped modern democracy over centuries, such as the Magna Carta, English Civil War, American and French Revolutions.

Uploaded by

Seema Das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is Democracy?

• Regular, contested elections


• Alternation of Governments
• Rule of Law
• freedoms: speech, association press, etc.
• pluralism/polycentrism/civil society
• Privacy
• Separation of powers/checks and
balances
Important events
• Death of Socrates: Plato blames democracy
[399BC]
• The Roman Republic [SPQR]
• Anglo-saxon and Viking ideas of warrior
community [Dark Ages]
• Magna Carta 1215
• Glorious Revolution 1688
• American Revolution 1776
• French Revolution 1789
Women, slaves,
and foreigners
Democracy Under
weren’t considered
citizens so they
couldn’t vote.
Cleisthenes
• All citizens had the
right and were
Athenians would assemble urged to assemble
to participate in the
making of laws.
• Citizens gave
speeches and
Athenians would debate debates on issues.
• After speeches
were over, voting
took place.

Athenians would vote


Democracy Under
Cleisthenes Cont. Debates on Pnyx
were often noisy
and lacked
• Voting was usually done organization.
by show of hands.
• For major decisions,
6,000 citizens were
needed to vote.
• As you can imagine, it
was difficult at times to
find 6,000 people to come
vote.
• To make it easier,
citizens were selected to
serve on a smaller
council which decided on
laws to discuss.

Voting took place on Pnyx (pah-NIKS), a small hill that sometimes held 6,000 people.
The Foundations
of Democracy

A. Ancient Greece
B. Ancient Rome
• The birthplace of
democracy is in
Athens
• Athens used to have a
monarchy
• Then it became an
aristocracy
• Then, when the
citizens governed or
ruled themselves, it
became a democracy
• Democracy developed because of three
Athenian rulers: Solon, Cleisthenes, and
Pericles.
• They allowed citizens to vote and Athens
developed into a direct democracy.
• However, not everyone was considered a
citizen
• Philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
continued the development of democracy
through their writings
• Natural Laws: laws of nature that explained
how people desired self-rule
• Socrates – 1st great Greek philosopher to voice
his beliefs in democracy.
• Believed in a meritocracy where those with
exceptional ability (really smart) and moral
character should be leaders.
• Plato – wrote The Republic.
• Believed a state should be
ruled by the wisest not the
richest to save the people
from evil.
• They would be called
philosopher-kings.
Socrates
• Roamed the market place asking people
“What is for the greatest good?”
• He posed a series of questions to his
students and challenged them to examine
their answers.
• This would help them to seek truth and
self knowledge
Socrates
• When he was 70 he was put on trial
• He was accused of corrupting the youth and
failing to respect the gods
• He was condemned to death by a jury
• He was a defender of the democratic process
and wouldn’t escape.
• Then individual should submit to the needs of
the state.
• He drank a cup of hemlock tea.
Plato
• The execution of Socrates left him with a
distrust of democracy
• He left Athens for 10 years
• When he returned he set up the Academy
• He taught and wrote about his ideas
• Through rational thought people could
learn how to best organize society
Plato
• Wrote the Republic
• Rejected Athenian Democracy
• State should regulate every aspect of
citizens lives
• Believed in equality at birth, but that
people can rise only as high as their
abilities would allow.
Plato’s ideal society
• Three class society
• -workers to produce the necessities of life
• -soldiers to defend the state
• -philosophers to rule
Aristotle
• Plato’s student
• Analyzed all forms of government
• Found good and bad in all
• Suspicious of democracy, thought it could
lead to mob rule
• Favored a constitutional government ruled
by middle class
Aristotle’s Polity
• Government ruled by middle class
• Goal is to establish just and stable rule
• Believed that within the city-state people
could reach their full potential and achieve
the good life
• Rulers should be subject to the law

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