The first reason Athens was not a true democracy was because only 12% of people were able to vote. According to Professor Josiah Ober, only 29,900 people had a vote. That is 12% of the population (Doc 3).
Simply the foundation of democracy in Athens is incredibly important to the governmental system of the current United States. Of course there are the obvious differences between the two systems, such as different ages of voting eligibility, and the fact that gender does not decide someone’s ability and right to make important political decisions. Athens utilized the votes from the people a bit differently as well, with a small 40,000 Athenian men voting on whatever issues simply rose to attention. Elections were also determined through a lottery system, whereas officials in the United States are completely decided by its citizens. There are an abundance of differences between the two governmental system, with the most important policy used by both the Athenians and the United states being the decision to allow the majority, the citizens from any social class, to vote and be a part of a
Furthermore, Fema focused more of their financial resources toward massive incarceration during hurricane Katrina. Fema priorities on how the handle funding resource during the after math of Karina, they focused more on crimes rather than helping victims. Fema overseen and run by homeland security directed there attention towards crimes and terrorist, instead of quickly making funds accessible to resident with no place live. Fema paid for this prison system to operate and covered inmates cost of living during the time spent in prison. Fema sent law officials to arrest New Orleans residents.
One trait that our democracy today has in common with ancient Greece democracy is the fact that both hold nationalism and patriotism very high ("Ancient Democracy vs. American Democracy -Democracy in Ancient Athens," n.d.). Another likeness was the demonstrations, people marching and speaking out for what they believe in and want heard ("Ancient Democracy vs. American Democracy -Democracy in Ancient Athens," n.d.). A huge difference with the two concerning democracy was the fact that Greeks only considered the rights of citizens and they were troubled with the many differences between groups of people where today Americans make sure disparities are a thing of the past ("Ancient Democracy vs. American Democracy -Democracy in Ancient Athens,"
Firstly, only male citizens had equal rights to vote, freedom of speech, and opportunities to participate directly in political arenas, which is only 12% of the population. For example Citizen women, Children of citizens, Metics, and Slaves did not have the right to vote which is the other 68%. This shows the Athenians were not democratic because not the whole population wasn 't a system of government, when not even half of them were. Also in Athen nobody had the freedom of thought and or speech. If someone
Democracy, a form of government, allows the people in their own nationality to vote for people in order for them to become representatives as a result to vote on new laws that would affect their own nationality. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not inclusive, other than male citizens, to gain authority in ancient Athens, ¨Demokratia was ruled by male citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners(Metics) and slaves.¨(Document D), therefore ruling Athens was only accessible to male citizen since since women, free foreigners(Metics), and slaves were not allowed to rule as a result of not being male citizens. One of the many states of Greece, ancient Athens, was indeed not truly democratic as a result of not even using the essentials of democracy that is used today, “Thus, by our standards, it was oligarchy, not democracy.¨(Document D), therefore ancient Athens was not using democracy as their form of government, they were using oligarchy,another form of government in which a small group of people has power and control, as their form of government instead of democracy.
Democracy did not start out as the same system we have in modern times. Before democracy was used in ancient Greece, Athens was ruled by kings, then by an oligarchy from 700 to 595 BC. Between the rule of the nobility and the introduction of democracy, Greece was under a tyrannical rule. Finally, in 508 BC, democracy was introduced in Greece, eventually spreading across the globe, despite the Roman attempts at stomping it out. Cleisthenes is most often the man who is cited for introducing democracy to ancient Greece, broke up the power of the aristocracy and divided Athens into ten “tribes” based on where people lived.
HIST 1421 Learning Journal Unit 1 • Different classical Greek philosophers held different opinions about democracy, include Socrates, Aristotle, and Plato. Socrates saw republic as a defective system since it provided power to the uninformed people and held the view that only the intelligent and righteous should rule. He favored a system of governance where philosopher-kings would rule, using their knowledge and goodness to make judgments that would benefit the whole nation. Many of Socrates' ideas on democracy were also held by Plato, whom was a pupil of the philosopher.
Socrates was a man that was in search of the truth about wisdom. However, it became more then just a search when it brought him to trail of accusations. As a philosopher Socrates was known to overdrawn ideas and to frustrate anyone he was talking to. He is always in search of a better idea and for anyone who has experienced Socrates could assume he is making up his own actualities. This becomes evident in “ Apology” written by Plato, where Socrates was brought in charges for corrupting the minds of the youth and not believing in the Gods.
One of the things he taught was civil disobedience. Socrates fully understood that the government won’t always be fair or just, and that the people had a right to do something about it. “The only life worth living, is the upright life, or the life committed to the search for truth.” (“Civil Disobedience”, 19) He didn’t just find it to be a justifiable act, but a duty to search for the truth when society in at an absence of it.
Socrates started his life as an average Athen citizen. His parents worked, making an honest living. But as Socrates grew up, he began to realize that his mind questioned things and wondered how come no one else questioned the same things or at least think about the answers to the questions that were not answered. So, as his mind kept wandering, he began to acknowledge the questions that were not answered and sought for those answers. He ended up believing and teaching things to other people, whether it went against the way the Athen government or not, he still continued his work.
Socrates sees himself as wiser than other men including the politicians, craftsmen, and poets because he did not go around thinking he knew what he did not know. As a result of this, his character reflected someone who saw himself as superior to others and instead of feeding that ego, he could have been a joined politics and have an influence on the Athenian democracy. If he had done this, people like Meletus and his later accusers would have taken his criticism in a positive way. Socrates has the right to criticize the democracy of Athens because, in his perspective, verdicts are passed in the court by jurors with respect to whoever seems good to him. The democracy of the people was biased because, even if a person was wrong in court, he would not receive the right punishment her deserved because of his relations with the jurors.
Firstly, it can be argued that people in Athenian democracy voted for their own interest, instead of in
Philosophical thinking uses three acts of the mind: understanding, judgement, and reason. In order to have a sound argument all of the concepts must be applied. Socrates didn’t want to please the people by saying or doing what they wanted him to say or do. Socrates thought it was not important to seek wealth or fame; he was concerned with truth and virtue. He wanted to create an impact on humanity by relying on the truth and shining a light in people’s lives, even if they put him on trial.
Some people think that ancient Athens was truly democratic, I think not. Democracy is the rule of the whole of the people,excluding minors and maniacs only. Democracy was rule by citizens only, excluding women, free foreigners (Metics) and slaves. By our understanding it was an oligarchy, not democracy.
