First Democracy: The Challenge of an Ancient IdeaOxford University Press, 2006 M03 16 - 304 pages Americans have an unwavering faith in democracy and are ever eager to import it to nations around the world. But how democratic is our own "democracy"? If you can vote, if the majority rules, if you have elected representatives--does this automatically mean that you have a democracy? In this eye-opening look at an ideal that we all take for granted, classical scholar Paul Woodruff offers some surprising answers to these questions. Drawing on classical literature, philosophy, and history--with many intriguing passages from Sophocles, Aesop, and Plato, among others--Woodruff immerses us in the world of ancient Athens to uncover how the democratic impulse first came to life. The heart of the book isolates seven conditions that are the sine qua non of democracy: freedom from tyranny , harmony, the rule of law, natural equality, citizen wisdom, reasoning without knowledge, and general education. He concludes that a true democracy must be willing to invite everyone to join in government. It must respect the rule of law so strongly that even the government is not above the law. True democracy must be mature enough to accept changes that come from the people. And it must be willing to pay the price of education for thoughtful citizenship. If we learn anything from the story of Athens, Woodruff concludes, it should be this--never lose sight of the ideals of democracy. This compact, eloquent book illuminates these ideals and lights the way as we struggle to keep democracy alive at home and around the world. |
From inside the book
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Page 12
... wealthy alumni in the fight. Soon the plot is uncovered, and the outraged chair confronts the dissidents. “Why have you done this? You are tearing the department apart. Can't you live with democracy? Majority rule—that's democracy, isn ...
... wealthy alumni in the fight. Soon the plot is uncovered, and the outraged chair confronts the dissidents. “Why have you done this? You are tearing the department apart. Can't you live with democracy? Majority rule—that's democracy, isn ...
Page 14
... not elective. In ancient democracy, as now, wealth made a difference to elections; people without money or family connections almost never won elective office in Athens. Because the 14 introduction: democracy and its doubles.
... not elective. In ancient democracy, as now, wealth made a difference to elections; people without money or family connections almost never won elective office in Athens. Because the 14 introduction: democracy and its doubles.
Page 15
... wealth, they severely restricted the powers of those who held elected office. So the representative bodies in Athens were filled not by elections, but by a lottery that drew from a large panel of citizens who had met certain conditions ...
... wealth, they severely restricted the powers of those who held elected office. So the representative bodies in Athens were filled not by elections, but by a lottery that drew from a large panel of citizens who had met certain conditions ...
Page 16
... wealth. Such large juries may seem impractical in our overworked culture, but we must still try to keep wealth from corrupting our juries. In pursuing democracy, the Athenians improved their system over the years. They made jury ...
... wealth. Such large juries may seem impractical in our overworked culture, but we must still try to keep wealth from corrupting our juries. In pursuing democracy, the Athenians improved their system over the years. They made jury ...
Page 18
... wealth undermines equality, the retention of prisoners abroad in a base on Cuba threatens the rule of law, and the rising number of electoral districts that are safely in the hands of political parties reduces the value of people's ...
... wealth undermines equality, the retention of prisoners abroad in a base on Cuba threatens the rule of law, and the rising number of electoral districts that are safely in the hands of political parties reduces the value of people's ...
Contents
3 | |
2 The Life and Death of Democracy | 21 |
3 Freedom from Tyranny And from Being a Tyrant | 61 |
4 Harmony | 81 |
5 The Rule of Law Nomos | 109 |
6 Natural Equality | 127 |
7 Citizen Wisdom | 145 |
8 Reasoning Without Knowledge | 171 |
Are Americans Ready for Democracy? | 211 |
Notes | 233 |
Dates | 258 |
Cast of Characters | 260 |
Guide to the Peloponnesian War | 263 |
Ancient Sources | 265 |
Scholarly Works Cited | 266 |
Index | 273 |
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able Aeschylus ancient argument army Assembly Athenians Athens attack believe better bring called chapter citizens civil claim common court culture debate decisions defeat defend democracy democratic elected empire enemies equal expert failed failure fear follow force freedom gave give Greece Greek harmony human ideal ideas interests issues judgment justice keep killed kind king knew knowledge known lead leaders lines live majority means nature never Nicias ordinary party Pericles Persian philosophers Plato play poets political poor practice probably Protagoras question reason requires reverence rhetoric rich rule of law shared shows side slaves Socrates Sparta speak speakers speech Syracuse teach teachers thing Thirty thought Thucydides trial tyranny tyrant United vote wealth wisdom women wrong young