Part six can be found here.
Although Otanes’ vision of consensual rule failed, his dream of democracy lived on. Euripides (485 – 406 B.C.) an Athenian playwright who often defended democracy in his tragic plays profoundly examines the idea of democracy in his play The Suppliants. In this play, Theseus comes to the aid of Adrastrus who wants to burry his fallen comrades. Adrastus (king of Arogos) tried to conquer Thebes but failed and appeals to Theseus (king of Athens) for help. Burial rights were very important to the ancient Greeks and sometimes resulted in war when these rights were not granted by the opposing army. In The Suppliants however, Euripides uses Theseus as a spokesman for democracy. Theseus claims that he can not do anything without the sanction of the city. He explains, “For them [the people] I made supreme, when I set this city free, by giving all an equal vote.”1 Then, Euripides provides a fascinating exchange between a herald from Thebes promoting monarchy and Theseus presenting and defending democracy. The herald asks to speak to the despot of Athens. Naturally, Theseus takes exception with this statement and corrects the herald. “Thou hast made a false beginning” states Theseus, “in seeking here a despot. For this city is not ruled by one man, but is free. The people rule in succession year by year, allowing no preference to wealth, but the poor man shares equally with the rich.”2 The herald answers Theseus with a critique of democracy. He says that the land he comes from is ruled by one man only, not by the mob. And further explains that the uneducated will not be qualified to govern a city. The uneducated would gain a reputation by beguiling with words the populace just to seek self enrichment. Theseus provides three arguments in favor of democracy. He believes the rule of law, free speech, and a consensus of the brightest and most talented citizens will work together to provide harmony, order and stability in a democracy. Theseus explains his first argument,
Naught is more hostile to a city than a despot; where he is, there are in the first place no laws common to all, but one man is tyrant, in whose keeping and in his alone the law resides, and in that case equality is at an end. But when the laws are written down, rich and poor alike have equal justice, and it is open to the weaker to use the same language to the prosperous when he is reviled by him, and the weaker prevails over the stronger if he have justice on his side.3
According to Euripides, the best and surest way to maintain equality, defend freedom, and protect from tyranny is the rule of law. Both constitutional and procedural law is necessary to democracy because, ideally, it will protect the commonality from tyranny, provide a barrier to mob rule, and make available a just legal standing for all citizens regardless of their economic status.
Theseus’ second argument for democracy is based on the notion of free speech, debate, and dissent. When citizens are considered equal before the law they have the freedom to provide a voice in their government. Citizens should be able to speak freely about the important political issues they face. Theseus explains how this should work,
Freedom’s mark is also found in this: ‘Who hath wholesome counsel to declare unto the state?’ And he who chooses to do so gains renown, while he, who hath no wish, remains silent. What greater equality can there be in a city? 4
Theseus indicates that those who have good counsel to offer the state are welcome to do so and those who wish to remain silent are free not to participate. Equality rests in the idea that all are free to either contribute to the betterment of the city or not. Theseus third argument is based on the idea that democracy requires young and intelligent citizens.
Again, where the people are absolute rulers of the land, they rejoice in having a reserve of youthful citizens, while a king counts this a hostile element, and strives to slay the leading men … for he feareth for his power. How then can a city remain stable, where one cuts short all enterprise and mows down the young like meadow-flowers in springtime?5
Theseus understands the value a young educated and intellectual class will bring to the state. And history has proven him correct. It is common knowledge that one of the attributes of tyranny is the elimination of the intellectual and educated class in society. Tyrants do not want to be challenged by those who can think independently or question the assumptions of a tribal or despotic regime. A democracy, however, thrives and succeeds on a reserve of young talented and enthusiastic independent thinkers. All regimes understand the power of ideas. Ideas move men and society more often than economics or government programs. No war is ever fought strictly on material grounds but on the ideas and passions that rightly or wrongly motivate armies to fight. Blaise Pascal once quipped, “opinion is queen of the world.”6 Ideas are important and most despotic regimes are atavistically afraid of an educated and articulate population. Tyrannies do not want the free exchange of ideas because they know that the power of ideas could remove them from rule. Democracies are not immune to bad ideas either but the rule of law, open debate, free exchange of ideas, and the values of discussion and dissent are more likely to provide a stable society where grievances can be addressed in a productive manner.
Next time we will explore how the Western ideas of legal restraint on majority rule, and the notions of freedom and equality are likely to impede and hinder the execution of the most extreme elements of human nature.
1 Euripides, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes., Great Books Of The Western World, Vol. 5, ed. Robert Maynard Hutchins, (Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1952), 261.
2 Ibid., 262.
3 Ibid., 262.
4 Ibid., 262.
5 Ibid., 262.
6 Pascal, The Provincial Letters, Pensees, Scientific Treatises, Great Books Of The Western World, Vol. 33, ed. Robert Maynard Hutchins, (Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1952), 228.
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