Philosophical Discourse on Democracy in Term Paper

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As Socrates argues against rhetoric and its use as an "art" (as Gorgias identifies it), he exemplifies the freedom of the criminal as opposed to the law-abiding individual, subsisting to the same argument that Plato had presented in "Republic." In arguing against rhetoric and freedom obtained in democracy, Socrates states: "...the unjust or doer of unjust actions is miserable in any case,-more miserable, however, if he be not punished and does not meet with retribution, and less miserable if he be punished and meets with retribution at the hands of gods and men." This passage means that punishment inflicted upon those who deviated and did not follow the laws of humanity is a form of reiterating inequality among humans, between those who are right, just, and powerful, and the wrongdoers and powerless. Moreover, this train of thought in "Gorgias" elucidates the freedom of deviants in society, since once punished, society will consider them as 'outcasts,' whereby these people achieve a degree of anonymity, of freedom, from the society and its rigid laws and rules.

Plato's arguments against democracy in "Republic" and "Gorgias," respectively, oppose Aristotle's thoughts about the said concept in "Politics." In his discourse, Aristotle claims that human laws and rules are not detrimental to the freedom and rights of people; in fact, it further reinforces them, with the creation of organizations and institutions, which shall serve as entities that ensure that freedom and rights of individuals are truly preserved.

In "Politics," Aristotle discusses the function that democracy brings to society, wherein "...the free are rulers...Of forms of democracy first comes that which is said to be based strictly on equality.

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In such a democracy the law says that it is just for the poor to have no more advantage than the rich; and that neither should be masters, but both equal. For if liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost." Thus, since the state is governed by the majority, there is the certainty, according to Aristotle, that the interests of this majority shall be satisfied by the government. However, it is important to note that the philosopher also takes into consideration the existence of other forms of democracy, where people receive various levels or degrees of freedom. Examples cited are oligarchy and tyranny, wherein freedom is attained only by the few (rule of the minority) and by a sole and central power, respectively.

Going further into his discussion of democracy, Aristotle argues that the best form of democracy ever demonstrated in the history of humanity is the "oldest" form of democracy -- that is, democracy in an agricultural population. Under this kind of democracy (also called "first order" democracy), society is simple and purely egalitarian, since there is no power or property to argue about, where people "...find their employment pleasanter than the cares of government or office where no great gains can be made out of them..." These thoughts on democracy by Aristotle illustrates the principles of equality and preservation of individual rights that democracy subsists to, opposing Plato's pessimistic view of democracy as "philosophically-binding" rather than liberating.

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