On Saturday 10 March 2007 20:28, Bartning@aol.com wrote:
It's been a while since I read a good portion of Plato's book, _The Republic_, but I wouldn't say it ruled out democracy, only the problems with democracy, notably the lack of protection of minority factions including of the individual. Democracy and freedom are basically synonymous. However, I may mix classical and modern-political thought.
Please remember that (if we are to believe the dialogue) Socrates could have fled, but chose to drink the hemlock out of respect for the authority of Athenian government. Even where the state murders to censor critics, its dictates are not to be resisted. That is the mentality of Plato.
Really, Volume 1 of Popper's "The Open Society and its Enemies" is a must-read.