Philosophy 11.02.25 (first period)

Ancient Greek City States

• Citizenship and Participation

  • Only males above the age of 18 were considered citizens in ancient Greek city-states.

  • Women and other groups were excluded from citizenship, emphasizing a male-dominated social structure.

• Democracy in Greek City States

  • Not all Greek city-states practiced democracy, but Athens is the most notable example.

  • In Athens, democracy flourished alongside significant developments in philosophy.

• Demos and Governance

  • The term "demos" refers to the people, and democracy translates to the rule or governance of the people.

  • Direct Democracy

    • A system where citizens directly participate in decision-making and governance, as seen in ancient Athens.

Comparison with Modern Democracies

• Parliamentary Democracy

  • Illustrated through the House of Commons in the UK, where citizens do not vote on every issue directly but elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

  • This form is more common in contemporary political systems, especially within the European Union.

Political Systems Overview

• Monarchical Systems

  • Characterized by hereditary rule, where leadership is passed down through family lineage.

  • Example: Kim Jong Un, who inherited power from his father.

• Theocracy

  • Rule by religious leaders or systems where governance is based on divine laws.

  • Contemporary examples may include certain aspects of governance in nations such as Iran.

• Lot-Based Governance

  • Historical examples exist where political offices were filled by drawing lots, such as in some ancient democracies.

• Socialism and Communism

  • Considered by some as specific forms of political rule; further exploration into these concepts may be warranted.

The Nature of Politics

• The Role of Politics

  • Politics often arises from disagreements among people; ideally, if all people were in agreement, governance might be unnecessary.

  • Politics is intertwined with ideology and questions of justice, particularly regarding who qualifies as a citizen and who holds power.

  • Understanding politics includes acknowledging issues of representation and who is included or excluded from political processes.