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That even if every Athenian was a philosophical genius then they would still ultimately just be a lot of people shouting and trying to take what ever they can. It could also be interpreted as an attack on the self-perceived all conquering brilliance of their democratic system.
The wisdom of individuals does not necessarily translate into the wisdom of the group composed of those individuals. That is because groups are still prone to acting on the basis of what we might describe as the lowest common denominator; what they have in common may not be wisdom.
Socrates felt every one should learn , and knowledge should be passed on.
Socrates. He taught using the Socratic Method. Which was that every student already had knowledge and that careful questioning would draw it out.
He founded the world's first university, the Academy, that lasted for about 900 years A+
That even if every Athenian was a philosophical genius then they would still ultimately just be a lot of people shouting and trying to take what ever they can. It could also be interpreted as an attack on the self-perceived all conquering brilliance of their democratic system.
The wisdom of individuals does not necessarily translate into the wisdom of the group composed of those individuals. That is because groups are still prone to acting on the basis of what we might describe as the lowest common denominator; what they have in common may not be wisdom.
demorcratic vote
It gave precedence to the idea that every citizen had the right to self determination.
Athens was governed by an assembly of all adult male citizens, which met fortnightly to make decisions.These assembly meetings were swayed by orators, and often acted in irrational and damaging ways as a result [example: a lot of sailors of sunken ships were drowned after a sea battle at Arginusai when a storm came up. Theramenes was the Admiral charged with recovering them. He got home early before the others, and told the Assembly that the other Admirals had deserted the dying sailors, and their relatives demanded execution of the admirals. This was passed by the Assembly and carried out (one the six executed was Pericles, son of the famous, now deceased Pericles), and cunning Theramenes got off scot free.The majority of the people was democratically inclined. Socrates was in favour of power to a limited number of the better educated conservatives. If the conservatives (read Socrates clones) had been in the majority, the Assembly would still have been swayed by orators but in a different direction - group-think, a mob, thinking differently but still a mob.We have tried today to limit this in our democracies by using representative democracy - elected members of parliament who meet and are supposedly not prone to on-the-spot mass surges of opinion and direction. It works partially.
The law-making body of Athens was called the Ekklesia, or the Assembly. The Assembly was composed of any Athenian citizen who cared to show up - that is, any Athens-born male over the age of 18. Women and slaves were not allowed to participate. All classes of society, however, from wealthy landowners to the thetes, or manual laborers, were allowed to participate. Before Pericles' reforms, however, only those wealthy enough to have significant amounts of free time on their hands could show up regularly to meetings. The leader of each meeting of the Assembly were chosen by lottery, with every male citizen over 18 having an equal chance of being drawn. Some of the duties of the Assembly were to vote on laws and decide when to go to war.
Athens had a unique government, a direct democracy. This meant that every Athenian citizen voted on laws and legislation. Sparta was ruled by two kings and a 28 member council of elders.
A direct democracy with enforced participation. ----------------------- Every Athenian male resident was a participant. However, women, slaves, children and foreigners were not included.
The Spartan government operated very differently than the Athenian government. Unlike Athens's democracy, in which every citizen had a vote, Sparta had an oligarchic government (a government ruled by a few people). Also the assembly could only vote on yes-or-no laws, but could not debate issues.
the assembly was open to every male citizen over the age of 30. met to talk about important matter such as rules about citizenship or war and to oppoint generals
The First Amendment gives every US citizen the right to assembly and to have his voice heard.
As part of the ancien Athenian assembly, the Council of 500 established the court cases. A prociding officer was chosen randomly from all citizens at every meating, and the assembly (whoever attended) voted. The cause with the most votes won.