PO235 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Ostracism, Athenian Democracy, Politeia
Document Summary
Born in 427 in athens during paraplegia"s war (431-404) We only know socrates from plato and those who write about him. Socrates is the wise men in plato"s dialogues. They are all constructed in dialogues. surrounded by not so wise friends. Socrates will ask a question, the friend will answe will question it and then come out with the real truth. It was democracy that condemned socrates death (399). Plato decided he would get out of p study philosophy. He founded the academy 386 (more so a school that plato founded for his teachings). In search of an idea polity to solve all problems. Then wrote 2 other books: politikon (he who studies politics) and nomoi (laws - wanted t strict rule of law and have stability). Athens was a city state - a polis. 30,000 people only 1/10 citizens with political rights. In a modern sense, this wasn"t a democracy. But what we mean by athenian democracy absolutely unique.
