Plato is one the most eminent contributors to political science domain. It is said that whole of political science is footnotes of Plato's and Aristotle's work. Plato was a Greek philosopher and thinker. It might come as bit of surprise but about Plato's views on Democracy and why he hated democracy.
Plato was born into aristocratic family. Plato lived at a time when there was struggle for power between competing classes. Infact some of his family for a short duration had seized power in Athens. But Democratic regimes had deposed them to capture power. This democratic regime was the same regime which had tried and executed Socrates.
Plato hated democracy :
There were two important reasons as to why Plato had his reasons for criticizing democracy :
1. Plato had seen how democratic regimes functioned during his times
2. It was the same democratic regime that executed Socrates. Now, Socrates was fictional character or real is a point of contention. (but we leave it at that)
Both Socrates and Plato were idealist. What was interesting is to note is that in a democratic regime people were subservient to their own desires and passion. This is what Plato had observed.
Plato on democracy
Citizens in a democracy have insatiable thrust for liberty and equality. Although it may seem that there is no wrong in pursuing those two. According to Plato, they will use their liberty to pursue pleasure and desires/wants but not for noble purposes.
The citizens in a democracy shall believe that it is their absolute right to pursue their interests and desires. But will lack the right knowledge (Virtue) to do so. Their life will be aimless and drawn towards desires and impulses. Their aim is pursue something relentlessly but only to the extent to satisfy their pleasure principle. Their reasons to pursue would not be out of reason/rational but on impulse or vices.
Here,
Notice that Plato's description of such citizens seems to be in line with what sophists taught at that time. For sophists "might is right" and one should pursue one pleasure after another. It also places concerns over increasing power and material wealth. This incessant need to leap onto one project/goal after another is characteristic of democratic citizen.
A democratic citizen pursues one goal after another without much reason or right knowledge. This is what made Plato think democratic citizens are similar to cave persons who were merely chasing shadows. Soon as one shadow ends another begins (allegory of cave). This how the democratic man pursues one shadow(goal) as the reality and then another believing it to be the truth/fact.
Example,
A democratic person 'A' who defends a social cause like discrimination against tribals/aboriginals. But lacking the depth and understanding regarding the matter and concerns of people belonging to that community or purpose behind it. As soon as it is achieved (superficially or partly). The person A jumps onto another social cause or political cause.
Do you see why its bit dangerous ? like the persons in cave who saw one shadow as another. They will follow one shadow after another believing it to be the truth/fact. While in reality they are far away from right knowledge. They live in world of appearances where they are ignorant about lot of things but they would like to believe they know it already.
Plato thought since they are slave of their passions and desires they will lack discipline to achieve anything. However, he also says that such people are not evil in nature (by intention) but by their actions. They are driven by ignorance resulting into evil consequences.
Before concluding, Another Political thinker Alex De Tocqueville's description of a Democratic man in his work Democracy in America similar to how Plato describes democratic citizens :
" (when democratic man)... is told that some pleasures should be sought and valued arising from desires of a higher order, others chastised and enslaved because the desires are base, he will shut the gates citadel against messengers of truth, shaking his head and declaring that one appetite is good as another and all must have their equal rights.
So spend his days indulging in pleasures of the moment, now intoxicating with wine and music and then taking to spare diet and drinking nothing but water, one day hard training, next day nothing at all and the third immersed in study.
Every now and then he takes part in politics leaping to his feet to say or do whatever comes to his head or he will rival someone he admires, a soldier it may be or if fancy takes him, a man of business. His life is subject to no order or restraint and he has no wish to change an existence which he calls pleasant, free and happy."
To Conclude,
Plato had his reason for being critical about democracy. He saw democracy in its degenerate form transforming into a despotic regime. His reasons were drawn from his experience and understanding of Political order. Hence, wanted to change it.
References :
1. Western Political thought by Brian R Nelson
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