Democracy Abraham Lincoln, former President of the United States says democracy is the government of the people, for

the people and by the people. History shows that democracy plays an instrumental factor in many peoples lives when seeking liberty and entitlement in search of a reasonable life. It is also one that seeks to encompass the virtues of a just society and aids in the decision making process of many nations. In America and elsewhere in the world, it is portrayed as a political system that depends on the decisions of the people, one where citizens are responsible for selecting in a free and fair electoral system a number of representatives that would express their ideas and fulfill their wants. Many citizens whose country is a socialist, dictatorship, or communist crave the desire to be free because it is in their nature. In addition, although there are many benefits afforded to the citizens living in a democratic nation, there are also many dangers that are present with the availability of too much freedom. The imperialistic, Athenian democracy presented in Thucydides Funeral Oration of Pericles compared with the pessimistic democracy in Platos Republic and the aspiring democracy of De Tocquevilles Democracy in America have many similarities and differences. The views presented by all three authors allow one to conclude that democracy, although the fairest form of government, becomes a de-evolution of human nature since everyone wants free will and the freedom to do what they please. This therefore leads to eventual despotism because people become very individualistic, straying from the benefits that come with living in a democratic nation. In Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian Wars, Pericles during the Funeral Oration gives a speech commemorating the soldiers who died on behalf of Athens but also pursues to paint a picture of the imperialistic Athenian democracy and Ancient Athens. In his speech, Pericles relates the special qualities of the Athenians, redefining many traditional Greek value

systems. He utters, Our constitution does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others than imitators ourselves. Its administration favors the many instead of the few; this is why it is called a democracy (Thucydides 83). Hence, one can infer that the Athenian democracy presented by Pericles is one that believes in utilitarianism, which is the greater good for the greater number of people. The idea that the Athenians are able to put aside their little wants and strive for the greater good of the city is a central theme of the speech. Athens power was based on military achievements which were manned mainly by poor citizens. Pericles addresses his audience saying, That part of our military achievements which gave our several possessions, or of the ready valor with which either we or our fathers stemmed the tide of Hellenic or foreign aggression is a theme too familiar to my hearers for me to dilate on (Thucydides 82). Pericles begins to explain to his audience through idealism, how and why Athens, one the most powerful nations in the world is where they are now. It is Athens imperialism that allows them to be the most powerful nation at the time and as a result, during the Peloponnesian War, the democratic forces in Athens were in a constant struggle for their livelihood of their ideals. Concerning Platos Republic, Platos character Socrates argues that democracy, although one of the fairest forms of government where people can practice political philosophy, it contributes to pessimistic ideals that eventually lead to slavery and then tyranny. Platos Socrates defines democracy through the discussion of some important characteristics such as the freedom of speech, free will, Eros of the tyrant, diversity, privacy and license to do whatever one may desire (223-224).Despite all the benefits that come from living in a democratic nation, Plato argues that the unbridled pursuit of liberty, like unrestrained pursuit of wealth, tends to negate itself. He begins by saying, The rulers, being aware that their power rests upon their wealth, refuse to curtail by law the extravagance of the spendthrift youth because they gain by

their ruin, they take interest from them and buy up their estates and thus increase their own wealth and importance (Plato 215). Plato emphasizes that too much of a good thing leads to its opposite, in this case power; likewise when an excess amount of liberty is extended to people, it results in slavery. For Plato, democracy, with its system of voting, is a fundamentally flawed way to make decisions and what the majority think is right and good are no guarantee that it is really right and good. It is also Platos argument that democracy can make people vulnerable to an even more persuasive enslavement, full-fledged tyranny. He emphasizes in Book VIII that the insatiable desire for this and the neglect of other things introduces the change in democracy, which occasions a demand for tyranny (Plato 222). Hence, Plato is insinuating that democracy allows for Eros of the tyrant, thus breeding the most ineffectual of rulers. De Tocqueville, in an effort of describing the aspiring democracy in his book Democracy in America, claims that it is a gift from God, however he argues that democracy, especially in America is going to turn into a despotic nation. The French writer suggests that The various occurrences of national existence have everywhere turned to the advantage of democracythey have all been driven along in the same track, have all labored to one end, some ignorantly, and some unwillingly; all have been blind instruments in the hands of God (12). Therefore, De Tocqueville acknowledges his belief that democracy is a gift from God and hence nations should realize this and act accordingly to the benefits that exist. Furthermore, he states how despotism is going to rise in America because a person compares himself individually with all those about him, he feels with pride that he is the equal of any one of them; but when he comes to survey the totality of his fellows and to place himself in contrast to so huge a body, he is instantly overwhelmed by the sense of his own insignificance and weakness (Tocqueville 10). De Tocqueville insists that democracy in America will in fact lead to despotism since many of

its people practice individualism which inevitably develops into egoism. The public life of any nation should be supreme as De Tocqueville reminds us but when observing his concept; the aspiring democracy outlined in his book is very idealistic, thus one wonders whether or not if it will work. Since, a concise explanation of the three distinct democracies: the imperialistic, Athenian democracy, the pessimistic democracy in Platos Republic, and the aspiring democracy in De Tocqueville Democracy in America is heavily examined, one can determine the various differences and similarities that exist when comparing the authors views. The belief that individualism stems from the pursuit of democracy is one that De Tocqueville addresses since it plays an integral factor in the social unity of a nation, in this case, the United States. He also believes that despotism will be the end result of democracy, which is synonymous with what Plato believes. Plato argues that democracy makes people more susceptible to the idea of tyranny since the extensive liberty afforded to them yields the loss of focus in maintaining justice. The views of De Tocqueville and Plato are similar in the sense that they both advocate the belief that the vast amount of freedom available to people living in a democratic nation leads to evil outcomes such as despotism and tyranny as people are more concerned with the expediency of their own pleasures. When comparing the views of Pericles in Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War and that of Plato, it is apparent that their belief of democracy is somewhat different and hence they both share different characteristics of what a democratic nation should exemplify. It is Pericles belief that If a man is able to serve the state, he is not hindered by the obscurity of his condition (Thucydides 83). Pericles reminds us that no one person in Athens is judged on the basis of intellectualism or a caste system, but everyone is given the same opportunities and they can do whatever they desire. However, unlike Pericles in describing the Athenian democracy,

Plato repudiates the belief that anyone can assume whatever position they would like to in society. Plato holds the belief that everyone has a certain place within in society and he sets up a system where there are producers, soldiers, and rulers, all of which provide as a whole the needs of a democratic society (40). In addition, Plato claims that the best philosophers should be kings which contradict Pericles perception that no one is hindered by the obscurity of his condition. Also, Pericles claims that they cultivate refinement without extravagance and knowledge without effeminacy; wealth we employ more than for use than for show (Thucydides 83). Hence, education is afforded to everyone on the basis of equality in Athens and it is Pericles view that when there are educated people, it aids in the build-up of society. On the contrary, Plato believes that only philosophers should be educated since they are the ones who will be the rulers and decision makers. Thus, having different views on what constitutes democracy, both Pericles and Plato enables one to see that idealism is present within nations and that there can be different forms of democracy. As history shows, democracy, being one of the fairest of governments as Plato claims is in fact an inevitable eventuality since people crave the desire to be free and the power to exercise their own will. Thus, this is something that every human being innately recognizes. Democracy has been widely embraced by many nations in the world not because of some vague yearning of human rights but because people recognize that although democracy may very well lead to evil desires, it allows room for one to exercise the natural freedoms and liberties that are entitled to them. In the world, many countries are now turning to a democratic government because they realize that living in a dictatorship or socialist country like Libya, people are more dissatisfied with the way they are treated and are tired of being ruled by one person in this case, Muammar Gaddafi. Democracy will continue to win over authoritarian systems because it pays more respect to the dignity of the individual. This can be seen in relation to the Cold War in

1953 which was the battle of ideology (capitalism and communism) between Russia and the United States. The United States won because of the belief of a better society and also since they celebrated the dignity of people. The desire to exercise complete freedom by citizens is one that proves that democracy is an inevitable eventuality for all societies and that despite living in a socialist, communist or authoritarian form of government, people want to be free to do as they please. Living in a democratic society, people have the availability of freedom that extends from speech to free will which allows one to conclude that democracy is certainly a de-evolution of human condition. In America today, the form of government that is executed is Democratic Republic which is one that favors capitalism. The rich become richer and the poor become poorer is a characteristic that can be used to represent the idea of capitalism. Many rich people in America and other countries are solely interested in their advancement and hence care little about who gets hurt. Since this freedom is available to them, they take advantage of it and as Plato emphasizes it leads to tyranny. Similar to that of Platos view, De Tocqueville insists that because democracy makes room for individualistic pursuits as seen in America. When people become self-interested and take advantage of dysfunctional masses, egoism rather than utilitarianism, is an eventual result. When one looks at the imperialistic Athenian democracy, in The Funeral Oration of Pericles, the pessimistic democracy in Platos Republic and the aspiring democracy in De Tocquevilles Democracy in America, it should is very clear that there is a major difference in the way each author presents the form of democracy. In Athens, the rulers believed that their military achievements have afforded them the power which they had. Pericles also tells us that they believed in utilitarianism, which is the greater good for the greater number of people. Then, looking at the pessimistic democracy in Platos Republic, it declares that although being

one of the fairest forms of government where people can practice political philosophy, it contributes to evil ideals that eventually lead to slavery and tyranny. De Tocqueville shares this similar belief in saying that democracy, a gift from God will eventually leads to individualistic pursuits. Both De Tocqueville and Plato hold the belief that democracy leads to despotism because people become self-interested in the advancement of their own desires rather than for the people. However, Plato disagrees with Pericles with the fact that anyone can become a ruler within society. Democracy is an inevitable eventuality since people crave the desire to be free and the power to exercise their own will. This can is seen from the civilians riot against Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, where the people were tired of being ruled by a dictator and hence preferred more freedom. A de-evolution of human condition, democracy leads to despotism and tyranny as mentioned by the authors.

Works Cited

De Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America. Ed. Isaac Kramnick. New York: Norton, 2007. Print Plato. The Republic. Trans. Benjamin Jowett. Mineola, NY: Dover, 2000. Print. Thucydides. The Peloponnesian War. Trans. Richard Crawley. Mineola, NY: Dover, 2004. Print.