Plato was against the Athenian democracy, due to his critic, he was considered as the enemy of democracy. Plato considered democracy as anarchy where people have liberty of doing what they like and absolute equality for all. Athenian democracy is opposite of social system in which every member conform to process of education and training. In Athenian democracy every one claim equal right and liberty but no one was ready to fulfill their obligation and duties seriously, which were assigned by the state, it was a system of desires. Furthermore, in democracy no one governs and being governed and people do not respect the laws. Democracy is the negation of justice and denial of social training. Plato rejects rules of law, written constitution and recruitment via merit. He thinks the system in which people sacrifices their own interest, for the sake of social good that is the system which should be accepted for the state. Plato considered democracy as mobocracy and anarchy that’s why he was opposed to the democratic system.
What factors were responsible for Plato opposition of democracy? Why did he considered democracy as anarchy? What were the reasons behind Plato negative attitude towards democracy? Most important factors behind Plato hatred towards democracy are as follow.
Defeat of Athens
Plato had witnessed Athens destruction himself by the hands of Spartan aristocrats. He was convinced that democrats exploit the masses in the name of liberty and equality but are not able to protect them from internal threats and foreign aggression. Furthermore, he believed that by changing leader through votes and by raising hands will not improve the lives of poor people. It will make the life of people worse, democracy pave the way for tyranny. When Spartans defeated Athens it resulted in despotism, which convinced Plato that democracy is the worst political system. Moreover he did not blame the citizens for that, he said they accepted the system because of their ignorance.
The Assassination of Socrates
Socrates was Plato teacher, he taught his doctrine to Plato, Socrates doctrine was beyond the understanding of ruling democrats, because they could not comprehend the philosophy of Socrates. They considered his doctrine detrimental for the state and the citizens. Democrat offered him a choice whether to abandon his doctrine or face death. Socrates prefer death over abandoning his believes. Which convinced Plato that, democracy is not the system of liberty and equality.
Plato Philosophy
Plato was the follower of Socrates doctrine, which is “knowledge is virtue”. People who are most knowledgeable are the most virtuous people. He believed that selection of the leader should be on the basis of education and training and should not be selected by the people. According to Plato, philosopher ruler can only understand the problems of state and resolve it accordingly. An ignorant leader who is selected by the people is not able to do so. Furthermore he believed that, democracy pave the way for tyranny.
