Why Socrates Hated Democracy

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. <a href="https://medium.com/illumination/why-socrates-hated-democracy-1ed1fb30ecd2">Read More</a>