[WikiEN-l] Study finds that Wikipedia has evolved from an oligarchy to a ...

[Bartning at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/6/2007 4:19:22 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
andrew.cady at gmail.com writes:

Plato's Republic was not essentially dissimilar to Soviet  Communism;
the main difference is that the Soviets at least payed lip  service to
democracy and the value of the working class.  Russell on  Plato:

It has always been correct to praise Plato, but not to  understand
him.  This is the common fate of great men.  My  object is the
opposite.  I wish to understand him, but to treat  him with as little
reverence as if he were a contemporary English or  American advocate of
totalitarianism. [...]

But even  if we suppose there is such a thing [in government]
as "wisdom," is  there any form of constitution which will give
the government to the  wise?  It is clear that majorities, like
general councils, may  err, and in fact have erred.  Aristocracies
are not always  wise; kings are often foolish; Popes, in spite of
infallibility,  have committed grievous errors. [...]

The problem of finding a  collection of "wise" men and leaving the
government to them is thus  an insoluble one.  That is the ultimate
reason for  democracy.

 

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.

I won't touch on whether Athens was "true  democracy."

Well, it was much more democratic than any institution  today, a rule of 10 
by 1.
 
I agree that Plato's republic was radical.  Basically  you wouldn't even have 
people raising their own children, and the children of  those who were 
believed inferior would be quietly killed.
 
By that time, the world had experienced and was  experiencing a republic, 
that of Rome, but I believe I've hit a  wall.
 
Vincent
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