The Platonic sketch of democracy as a "hatchery" of aspiring tyrants, compared with research approaches to modern populism
Published:
Jun 3, 2024
Keywords:
Democracy; Populism; Fascism; Demagogues; Plato; Tyranny; Political Decline; The Republic
Abstract
This article examines Plato's critique of the democratic regime as presented in the Republic, specifically focusing on the section regarding the decline of political systems. The author highlights the Platonic correlation between demagogues within a democracy and the eventual emergence of a tyrannical regime, which is viewed as a result of the subversion of democratic structures. Furthermore, Zacharakis compares Plato's reasoning with contemporary research on the phenomenon of modern populism. By identifying common points between ancient political theory and modern observations, the study demonstrates the enduring relevance of Platonic critique in understanding current political shifts and the risks of democratic erosion.
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Zacharakis, M. (2024). The Platonic sketch of democracy as a "hatchery" of aspiring tyrants, compared with research approaches to modern populism . Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (18), 5–13. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.37983
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