At the beginning of the Crito Dialog, Crito and Socrates discuss the merits of ruling by majority. What would Socrates think of the form of the United States government? Explain both what Socrates thinks would be good and bad about the American government.
10 comments:
Socrates would believe that, as with most forms of governments, there are pros and cons to the United States democracy. An advantage is that the main body of the people is represented, but the counterpoint to this is the fact that sometimes the majority is wrong, while the wise minority is correct; however, this wise minority would not get represented as what the majority wants is what gets passed.
The bad side of a democracy would be the pure slowness it takes to all agree on something. Even after they all agree, who says a majority knows everything? answer: They don't. Slow and not always grunted right makes democracy seem bad.
Good side would be pleasing everyone who votes because they feel like there voice is heard. This jsut makes people happy with there words
Socrates seems to admire some aspects of a Democracy. He values the meaning of a majority vote and abides by the jury's decision. However, he does not believe what the majority thinks, outside of this context, is relevant. This may seem like a contradictory statement, but it's not. Socrates reacts differently to the majority's opinions, according to whether or not the majority has an opinion in a court of law, or outside a court of law. Socrates respects the majority's decision, when they are called upon in court. Yet, Socrates does not value the majority's opinion, when it is not asked for. Outside of a court of law, Socrates beleives one should judge their actions on what they believe right, not waht the majority believes right.
Socrates would think the American government is stepping in the right direction, but he would think that it has further to go. In our government, majority rules...so whatever majority says, goes. Socrates would not like this because the minority has no say in the government. This is wrong because the majority is not always right. Which is the point Socrates trie s to make to Crito in the dialogue.
What he would like about it is that it is still a democracy and people are able to voice their opinions without having to fear execution, or anything of that sort.
i think that socrates would find many faults in the U.S goverment but at the same time i also think that he would find a lot of things that he would find amazing that has to do with the goverment but from the dialoge i think that we can also find that socrates likes domacasy because he seems to hold a idea that a person owes there comunity something and therefore should then try to respect the desitions made by them but he also thinks that the opponions of the magority does not matter in fieds of sepesielization like only the coach's opion matters when it comes to the sport, not what everyone else thinks, we should be careful when invoking the falicy of popuarity because sometimes the magority belives in the "truth" and therefore not a falicy, some faults that i think that socrates would find in the U.S goverment would be things such as that the magorty of people deside on most things would be bad because the magority that desides the things are not spesalists in that area but mostly lawyers which is not a bad thing just socrates would argue that they are not the right peopole to deside things outside the matter of law, i think that socrates would also find that in his opion that several things in the U.S govermet are great like for example the fact that to elect leaders of our contry we have vote in which ussaly the person that most people like and thinks is the best wins and that there are many sepeizations involing sepsalists so that the everyday person can find a "good" opion foe which to follow.
Democracy has existed as the form of government in America for a long time. However, it has changed many many times. Our democracy today is unlike our democracy yesterday. Socrates would find many good things and bad things in our democracy. Some good things he may find is that it represents most people and it would allow change when it is absolutely needed. When changes aren't absolutely needed, changes wouldn't occur because of the large population in the voting system. Socrates would find bad things as well. Some bad things are that there may be corruption with our leaders and that people may be too ignorant to vote correctly in our democratic system. Now, I want to get a little deeper with the problem that people may be too ignorant to vote rightfully in our democratic system. This issue has been debated in our history for long time. Many people throughout history pondered whether certain peoples can vote or not. In the past, only the rich and the high class people can vote. (Those who own land and etc.) People thought that lower classed people weren't educated enough to vote and if they do, they'll make bad or wrong decisions.
This is all I want to say as of now.
In a democracy the people essentially rule themselves however Socrates would agree that this also has its cons. With this form of government the majority is in total control leaving the minority (even if its not a major minority; 51%-49%) under represented. Socrates would also agree that within a democracy, the right decisions are not really sought after rather. For example the majority could vote that children should bring weapons to school and that could become law; although it is not necessarily the right decision at all.
-Santiljan Vukaj
Socrates would definetly see many corruptions in the United State government. Like that the jury is too small to make a valid statement and that the use of a lawyer is no different than using a sophist to write your speeches for you. But then there would definetly be pros to our systems, like the aspect of laws being passed and obeyed by people that they will know. And all the laws will be known to everyone and it will be impossible to make up laws for ones own advantage.
Ventura-
Socrates would not care for any sense of government period and democracy he would hate maybe the 3rd worst. Democracy to him would be pointless because a bunch of people who are not smart enough get to vote. Then if say 80 percnt of the population is a little mentally unstable the government can be put in the wrong hands Bush and cheney if some peeps dont get it. Then if this happens laws that are wrong will be passed wars will start and socity as we know it is messed up. Welcome to America.
The U.S government is all about democracy; a system in favor of the people. Whichever the majority rules on, is a decision. The fact that a decision relies on a majority would be something Socrates would not like about the government because:
The majority might not be right; the majority might be helping one aspect, but hurting another;
and the majority can be manipulated, and sometimes without even realizing it, make the decisions.
But overall, I think Socrates would also like our system of government because there is nothing better than having the people decide for themselves, but as i had mentioned before, even that is not perfect.
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