Political ThinkingPolitical ThinkingPOL 161POL 161

Erik RankinErik Rankin

D&B 14-25D&B 14-25

The Democratic IdealThe Democratic Ideal• No one pretends that democracy is perfect or No one pretends that democracy is perfect or

all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.tried from time to time.

– Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill

• Democracy seems to be the greatest form of Democracy seems to be the greatest form of government that existsgovernment that exists

• This however is quite debatableThis however is quite debatable• Democracy is NOT an ideology but it is an Democracy is NOT an ideology but it is an

idealideal• Democracy literally means “rule by the Democracy literally means “rule by the

people”people”• This brings up a number of questionsThis brings up a number of questions

The Democratic IdealThe Democratic Ideal

• Who are the people?Who are the people?

• How are they to rule?How are they to rule?

• This is where the understanding of a This is where the understanding of a single definition goes out the window!single definition goes out the window!

• Minus fascism and Nazism, most Minus fascism and Nazism, most ideologies agree that democracy is the ideologies agree that democracy is the Ideal that society should strive forIdeal that society should strive for

• Why?Why?

The Democratic IdealThe Democratic Ideal• Democracy has not always been seen Democracy has not always been seen

as the idealas the ideal

• Democracy first came to be used as a Democracy first came to be used as a word in ancient Greeceword in ancient Greece

• It evolved due to a fight for power It evolved due to a fight for power between the demos (common people) between the demos (common people) and the aristocracy (rule by the best)and the aristocracy (rule by the best)

• Pericles offered one of the first Pericles offered one of the first defenses of democracy in his “Funeral defenses of democracy in his “Funeral Oration”Oration”

The Democratic IdealThe Democratic Ideal• Then Plato and Aristotle spoke out Then Plato and Aristotle spoke out

against democracyagainst democracy• They believe it would lead to a selfish They believe it would lead to a selfish

or corrupt form of governmentor corrupt form of government• Aristotle referred to it as “mobocracy”Aristotle referred to it as “mobocracy”• He did however go on to say that there He did however go on to say that there

are desirable features in democracyare desirable features in democracy• Aristotle felt a tweak was in order, he Aristotle felt a tweak was in order, he

felt the best form was that of a polity or felt the best form was that of a polity or “republic”“republic”

The Democratic IdealThe Democratic Ideal

• The “republic” view distributes power into The “republic” view distributes power into the hands of common and elitesthe hands of common and elites

• This is the system of checks and balances This is the system of checks and balances that evolvesthat evolves

• This would be a popular government This would be a popular government because “the people” will have a saybecause “the people” will have a say

• But a republic is not necessarily a But a republic is not necessarily a democracydemocracy

• In a republic power is still wielded and In a republic power is still wielded and tempered by a few powerful elitestempered by a few powerful elites

The Democratic IdealThe Democratic Ideal• There have been many supporters of There have been many supporters of

the republican form of government the republican form of government

• We will specifically be reading We will specifically be reading Machiavelli, John Adams, Tocqueville, Machiavelli, John Adams, Tocqueville, and John Stuart Milland John Stuart Mill

• The big question: How democratic is The big question: How democratic is the United States? Scale of 1-10.the United States? Scale of 1-10.

Democracy & Despotism- Democracy & Despotism- EuripidesEuripides

• This a part of a play first performed in This a part of a play first performed in 422 B.C.422 B.C.

• There is a clear contrast here between There is a clear contrast here between democracy and despotismdemocracy and despotism

• Euripides embraces the ideals behind rule Euripides embraces the ideals behind rule by the people and condemns despotic by the people and condemns despotic governmentsgovernments

• The selection shows an interaction The selection shows an interaction between a Theban Messenger and between a Theban Messenger and TheseusTheseus

Democracy & Despotism- Democracy & Despotism- EuripidesEuripides• The messenger has a difficult time believing The messenger has a difficult time believing

that people can rule themselvesthat people can rule themselves

• This difficult for a person from a land where all This difficult for a person from a land where all humans submit to a rulerhumans submit to a ruler

• Theseus then fires back talking about the power Theseus then fires back talking about the power of democracy compared to a tyrannical rulerof democracy compared to a tyrannical ruler

• He shows the conception of freedom in He shows the conception of freedom in democratic terms: think triadic model!democratic terms: think triadic model!

• He then delivers the proverbial slap in the face He then delivers the proverbial slap in the face and orders the messenger to return as a fooland orders the messenger to return as a fool

Funeral Oration - PericlesFuneral Oration - Pericles

• Pericles delivered this speech following Pericles delivered this speech following the Peloponnesian Warthe Peloponnesian War

• He commemorates the sacrifice of the He commemorates the sacrifice of the dead Athenians who fought to uphold dead Athenians who fought to uphold their ideal of democracytheir ideal of democracy

• Delivered in 430 B.C.Delivered in 430 B.C.

Funeral Oration - PericlesFuneral Oration - Pericles• The first part of the speech focuses on the The first part of the speech focuses on the

contribution of the democratic constitution contribution of the democratic constitution of Athens to the good of Athenian citizens of Athens to the good of Athenian citizens

• On the Athenian way of thinking, a good On the Athenian way of thinking, a good political community is one in which citizens political community is one in which citizens live a good (happy, fulfilled) life. live a good (happy, fulfilled) life. – The implied contrast is with Sparta and other The implied contrast is with Sparta and other

such regimes in which a good regime has ends such regimes in which a good regime has ends that are independent of the good life of that are independent of the good life of citizens. Such regimes demand that citizens citizens. Such regimes demand that citizens sacrifice their own good for the success or sacrifice their own good for the success or glory of the political community. glory of the political community.

Funeral Oration - PericlesFuneral Oration - Pericles• The Athenian polis contributes to the good of The Athenian polis contributes to the good of

individual citizens in a number of ways. Life is free individual citizens in a number of ways. Life is free and easy. and easy. – In private life, everyone is equal before the laws. In private life, everyone is equal before the laws. – In public life, equality of opportunity is found In public life, equality of opportunity is found – This is important in a democracy because This is important in a democracy because

political equality is impossible if poor not able to political equality is impossible if poor not able to take part in government. take part in government.

– And it contributes to the good of the polis by And it contributes to the good of the polis by allowing it to draw upon the talents of abilities of allowing it to draw upon the talents of abilities of all citizens. all citizens.

– Legal restrictions on what citizens may or must Legal restrictions on what citizens may or must do are relatively few. do are relatively few.

– Citizens are tolerance of each other doing what Citizens are tolerance of each other doing what they like. they like.

Funeral Oration - PericlesFuneral Oration - Pericles• Tension between Aristocrats and DemocratsTension between Aristocrats and Democrats

– How? (p.17 left side bottom paragraph) readHow? (p.17 left side bottom paragraph) read

• Public spirit v. Private SpiritPublic spirit v. Private Spirit– How is this made?How is this made?– p. 18 middle of paragraph (An Athenian citizen…)p. 18 middle of paragraph (An Athenian citizen…)

• Who was a citizen in the Athenian Who was a citizen in the Athenian Democracy?Democracy?– Think!Think!

• So was this a democracy?So was this a democracy?

• Unpopular views were dealt with by death Unpopular views were dealt with by death (Socrates) or by ostracism (ostrakon- shell)(Socrates) or by ostracism (ostrakon- shell)

Funeral Oration - PericlesFuneral Oration - Pericles– Many ways to refresh the mind from the Many ways to refresh the mind from the

burdens of business: contests (including burdens of business: contests (including dramatic contests), religious sacrifices. dramatic contests), religious sacrifices.

– Note that this is one of the few mentions of Note that this is one of the few mentions of religion in the speech. religion in the speech.

– Economic benefits of living in the relative Economic benefits of living in the relative wealth of Athens: "elegance of private wealth of Athens: "elegance of private establishments," produce from all over the establishments," produce from all over the world. world.

– Education of Athenians is not a painful Education of Athenians is not a painful discipline (as in Sparta) but encourages discipline (as in Sparta) but encourages freedom and "courageous habits." freedom and "courageous habits."

– Love of beautiful things found in Athens, Love of beautiful things found in Athens, including philosophy. including philosophy.

Funeral Oration - PericlesFuneral Oration - Pericles

• Second part of the speech focuses on Second part of the speech focuses on how democratic institutions serve the how democratic institutions serve the common good and, in particular, leads common good and, in particular, leads individual citizens to choose to serve individual citizens to choose to serve the good of Athens. the good of Athens. – They do this primarily in two places: They do this primarily in two places:

political discussion in the assembly and political discussion in the assembly and military service military service

– In Athens, individuals are free to pursue In Athens, individuals are free to pursue their own ends and freely choose to serve their own ends and freely choose to serve the common good. the common good.

Funeral Oration - PericlesFuneral Oration - Pericles• The importance of action and speech in the The importance of action and speech in the

funeral oration. funeral oration. • Pericles denigrates the importance of his speech Pericles denigrates the importance of his speech

at two points. He does this at two points. He does this – To emphasize collective over individual action since To emphasize collective over individual action since

speech in general is more likely to be the product of speech in general is more likely to be the product of individuals. individuals.

– To ward off envy at his prominence. To ward off envy at his prominence. • Yet, at the same time, he points to the Yet, at the same time, he points to the

importance of speech. importance of speech. – He turns his speech from a description of the He turns his speech from a description of the

immediate actions of those who died to a consideration immediate actions of those who died to a consideration of the abstract principles under which Athens lives. of the abstract principles under which Athens lives.

– The great war heroes of Athens continue to honored The great war heroes of Athens continue to honored today only because of the work of great writers, such today only because of the work of great writers, such as Thucydides. as Thucydides.

Democratic Judgment and the Democratic Judgment and the “Middling” Constitution - Aristotle“Middling” Constitution - Aristotle• The multitude does have The multitude does have

some claims to rule. some claims to rule.

• Joined together, in certain Joined together, in certain areas the multitude may areas the multitude may have more virtue than one have more virtue than one excellent man. excellent man.

• The many are good judges The many are good judges of things such as music of things such as music and poetry. By looking at and poetry. By looking at the areas in which the the areas in which the multitude has the multitude has the advantage in judging one advantage in judging one can determine the areas in can determine the areas in which the multitude should which the multitude should have authority. have authority.

Democratic Judgment and the Democratic Judgment and the “Middling” Constitution - “Middling” Constitution - AristotleAristotle• Allowing the multitude to take the highest Allowing the multitude to take the highest

governing offices is unsafe, but depriving them governing offices is unsafe, but depriving them of all authority will surely lead to rebellion or at of all authority will surely lead to rebellion or at least serious factional conflict. least serious factional conflict.

• Therefore the multitude should share in Therefore the multitude should share in deliberating and judging i.e. choosing officials deliberating and judging i.e. choosing officials and auditing them. and auditing them.

• At the same time, however, it can be argued At the same time, however, it can be argued that those who know how to rule are also those that those who know how to rule are also those who have the best knowledge of how to choose who have the best knowledge of how to choose who should rule (i.e. Plato’s ideals, is this who should rule (i.e. Plato’s ideals, is this democratic?) democratic?)

Democratic Judgment and Democratic Judgment and the “Middling” Constitution - the “Middling” Constitution - AristotleAristotle• ““this is the political science of which this is the political science of which

the good is justice, in other words, the the good is justice, in other words, the common interest." common interest."

• Justice is considered to be a certain Justice is considered to be a certain sort of equality, but what remains to sort of equality, but what remains to be determined is what sort of equality be determined is what sort of equality and equality in what things and equality in what things

• The well-born, the free and the The well-born, the free and the wealthy deserve some sort of honor. wealthy deserve some sort of honor.

Democratic Judgment and the Democratic Judgment and the “Middling” Constitution - “Middling” Constitution - AristotleAristotle• The virtue and vice of a city or regime can be The virtue and vice of a city or regime can be

examined much like the virtue or vice of an examined much like the virtue or vice of an individual individual

• Virtue is a mean and the happy life is one in Virtue is a mean and the happy life is one in accordance with virtue. accordance with virtue.

• There are three parts of each city: the very There are three parts of each city: the very wealthy, the very poor, and those in the middle. wealthy, the very poor, and those in the middle.

• Since the mean is the best, the middling Since the mean is the best, the middling element of the city is the best part. element of the city is the best part.

• In a democracy the many are poor, in a polity In a democracy the many are poor, in a polity the many are in the middlethe many are in the middle

Democratic Judgment and the Democratic Judgment and the “Middling” Constitution - “Middling” Constitution - AristotleAristotle• It is best if the citizens are equal and It is best if the citizens are equal and similar persons, and this is the case with similar persons, and this is the case with the middling elementsthe middling elements

• The best political partnership is The best political partnership is therefore the one that depends on the therefore the one that depends on the middling ground and that a regime in middling ground and that a regime in which the middle element is which the middle element is proportionately larger compared to proportionately larger compared to other two elements is the most capable other two elements is the most capable of being well-governed of being well-governed

Democratic Judgment and the Democratic Judgment and the “Middling” Constitution - “Middling” Constitution - AristotleAristotle• The middling element does not The middling element does not

engage in factional conflict, and engage in factional conflict, and therefore cities with a larger therefore cities with a larger middling element are more stablemiddling element are more stable

• The best legislators come from The best legislators come from among the middling element among the middling element

• Is this true today?Is this true today?