The Athenian Democracy: The Democracy Of Athens

The Democracy of Athens

Athens was, in the ideals of the time it was prevailing, a democracy. Run by a government occupied with elected officials, and a judge/jury system to maintain the peace. It existed during the third century A.D and onward, producing philosophers akin Aristotle and Plato, who went on to influence the idea of democracy in concurrent civilization.

The definition of democracy is, as taken from Encyclopedia Britannica, literally, rule by the people. Such a term is derived from the Greek dēmokratiā, which was coined from dēmos (“people”) and Kratos (“rule”) in the middle of the 5th century BC to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens. (Cite, Encyclopedia Britannica.) An idea founded in the time of the Greeks.

Nevertheless the wealthy are able to influence elections in modern times, and the working class often times aren’t able to vote.

At the beginning, Socrates, an Athenian philosopher, surmised that asking questions would give one a broader perspective on life. He also established the basis foundation for democracy to flourish on. Despite the fact that he was executed for speaking freely, his student Plato continued to spread the basics of the Socratic method, though altering it slightly. Furthermore, the Athenian idea of democracy was a simple one, the people ran the government, because they would have no interest in gaining power for themselves singularly. Throughout the years we have metamorphosed the idea of democracy into what we have today. “A government of the people, by the people, for the people.”- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg