Custom essays: Modern Day Ethics

The modern democracy has some traits of oligarchy, as it was defined by Socrates and Plato. For instance, the modern government as well as any government is unthinkable without economy. However, on analyzing the redistribution of wealth within the nation, it is possible to reveal the fact that the economic elite of such countries as the US controls a considerable part of the national economy. As a result, on gaining support of the middle class, the ruling elite can influence the government using its economic power. In such a way, the elite can influence the government through its wealth that means that the modern democracy has some traits of oligarchy, where interests of the lower-class are often ignored.
At the same time, Plato and Socrates stressed the importance of education for effective governance. Moreover, they believed that the government cannot be effective if it is controlled by unwise people. Therefore, the government is likely to fail if there are no wise people. What is meant here is the fact that the government will lead to the degradation of the country and deterioration of the life of people. The philosophers stood on the ground that the state should be ruled by wise people. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that Socrates believed “ideals belong in a world that only the wise man can understand” (Socrates, 2008, p.144) making the philosopher the only type of person suitable to govern others. Therefore, philosophers are ideal governors, according to Plato and Socrates. In this regard, it is important to lay emphasis on the fact that modern governors also need to have a solid educational background to be effective. This means that education is an important part of the development of modern statesmen. Therefore, modern governors are supposed to be a sort of philosophers, which Plato and Socrates viewed as ideal governors. However, such a view on governors is idealistic and modern statesmen prove that people with average education can be governors but the effectiveness of their work differs depending on their professional skills and abilities.
At the same time, it is possible to reveal certain differences between the modern democracy and views of Plato and Socrates on the ideal government. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that the modern government focuses on the pragmatic approach. In fact, this means that the government focuses on the protection of economic interests of the country. However, Plato and Socrates stressed the importance of virtues for governors, as an essential feature which makes good governors. To put it more precisely, Plato cites Socrates saying that: Virtue does not come from money, but from virtue money and every other good thing for people both individually and collectively. For I go around doing nothing else than persuading you both young and old not to care about the body nor money more seriously than for the soul…
Are you not ashamed that you give your attention to acquiring as much money as possible and similarly with reputation and honour, but you do not care and think about truth and understanding and the perfection of your soul? (Socrates in Plato’s Apology)
In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that virtue is absolutely unimportant for contemporary statesmen. Virtue has become an abstract notion which is absolutely insignificant for modern statesmen.
Aristotle focused his attention on different social structures which he evaluated critically. He distinguished monarch and tyranny, aristocracy and oligarchy, polity and democracy. In the context of the modern society, Aristotle’s views on democracy are particularly noteworthy. Aristotle attempted to define the essence of the state and government:
But the citizen whom we are seeking to define is a citizen in the strictest sense, against whom no such exception can be taken, and his special characteristic is that he shares in the administration of justice, and in offices. He who has the power to take part in the deliberative or judicial administration of any state is said by us to be a citizens of that state; and, speaking generally, a state is a body of citizens sufficing for the purposes of life. (Aristotle, 2008, p.3)
In such a way, Aristotle stood on the ground that the government should meet purpose of life of people. In this regard, the modern democracy meets the idea of Aristotle because it implies to meet interests of the state and citizens. At any rate, modern governments declare that they attempt to meet interests of people. However, it is worth mentioning the fact that, in this regard, modern governments tend to meet Plato’s and Socrates’ idea concerning meeting needs and interests of the majority. Therefore, the modern democracy implies that the government meets interests of the majority mainly, whereas interests of the minority may be ignored.
In this regard, Aristotle defines interests of an average citizen:
But the citizen whom we are seeking to define is a citizen in the strictest sense, against whom no such exception can be taken, and his special characteristic is that he shares in the administration of justice, and in offices. He who has the power to take part in the deliberative or judicial administration of any state is said by us to be a citizens of that state; and, speaking generally, a state is a body of citizens sufficing for the purposes of life. (Aristotle, 2008, p.3)
Therefore, Aristotle reminds again about the importance of meeting needs and interests of average citizens. This idea is worth borrowing by modern governments and statesmen because often interests of average citizens are ignored for the sake of the well being of oligarchic elite.
Finally, Aristotle reminds about the importance of virtue which proves to be crucial to ancient Greek philosophy: “The citizens must not lead the life of mechanics or tradesmen, for such a life is ignoble, and inimical to virtue. Neither must they be farmers, since leisure is necessary both for the development of virtue and the performance of political duties.” (Aristotle, 2008, p.3). In such a way, similarly to Plato and Socrates, Aristotle believed that virtue is essential for good governors. However, as it has been already mentioned above virtue has become an abstract, insignificant concept in the modern democratic state and government.
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is important to lay emphasis on the fact that the form of government is very important. Philosophers attempted to define the ideal form of government. The modern society is the society where democracy rules. However, ancient Greek philosophers stressed that democracy is not an ideal form of government. At the same time, they stressed that ideal governors should be wise and virtuous people. In this regard, their views seem to be idealistic because their ideals are not always attainable. At the same time, their criticism of democracy is, to a certain extent just, especially in regard to the majority rule and possible oppression of the minority. In actuality, the ethical views of ancient Greek philosophers on politics and state have a significant impact on the development of the modern civilization and modern views on politics and state. Basically, the emergence of democracy is the manifestation of transformation of traditional views of Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates and experience of ancient Greeks in the development of different forms of state. Anyway, the modern democracy is grounded on ancient Greek democracy but still it preserves its unique characteristics.
References:
Aristotle. (2008). Politics. New York: Penguin Classics.
Bruell, C. (1994). “On Plato’s Political Philosophy,” Review of Politics, 56: 261-82.
Bruell, C. (1999). On the Socratic Education: An Introduction to the Shorter Platonic Dialogues, Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.
Grube, G.M.A.(2002). ” Plato, Five Dialogues”. Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
Hanson, V.D. (2001). “Socrates Dies at Delium, 424 B.C.,” What If? New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
Plato. (2008). Apology. New York: St. Martin Press.
Plato. (2008). Republic. Chicago: Routledge.