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How Democracy Killed Socrates
In 399 B.C., Socrates, one of the most renowned founders of Greek Philosophy, was executed for the crimes of corrupting the youths of Athens. This ruling was made by a court of 500 citizens who overwhelmingly voted 340–160 to execute Socrates. He was executed by drinking out of a glass of poison as depicted in the painting above. The charges made against him were very much based on a false allegation. However, a jury of 500 citizens found him guilty of a crime that Socrates was not guilty of in an almost tyrannical manner.
In most of the free world, democracy is a highly valued political system that many regard to be near-perfect. However, in Ancient Athens, where democracy was first conceived, we witnessed the tyrannical execution of one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Perhaps it is unironic that Socrates, who was always critical of democracy fell victim to it.
Could there be a flaw in the system?
It is no secret that Socrates was highly critical of democracy. He has famously described democracy as a system where many uneducated voters make decisions that they are not fit to make. Like a ship sailing, people knowledgeable in sailing should make decisions on where the ship would go, not just anyone who had…
