Why Socrates Hated Democracy
Understanding Socrates’ Criticism of Democracy and Its Significance Today
Socrates and Plato, two of the most distinguished philosophers in Western history, had a complicated relationship with democracy.
Although they were both committed to the search for truth and justice, they were also highly skeptical of the constraints and risks of democratic government.
Democracy, as a vision, is founded on the conviction that power should reside in the hands of the people. In ancient Athens, where Socrates lived, democracy was a relatively new vision, having developed just a few decades before his birth.
For Socrates, however, the promise of democracy was weakened by the reality of demagoguery.
Demagoguery influences public opinion through charismatic leaders who engage in emotional appeals rather than a reason to acquire and keep power.
In the visions of Socrates and Plato, demagoguery constituted a grave threat to the security and prosperity of a democratic society.
Socrates’ critique of democracy did not reject the concept of popular rule. Instead, it was an appeal for a more suitable and responsible type of democracy, one that was founded on the careful evaluation of facts and the search for truth.
