The fascination that springs from the first democratic polity of history, the ancient polis of
Attica, remains undaunted right up to now and the examination of this alluring topic will
certainly occupy future scientists as well. The main questions are: How – and most of all why
– did democracy develop at this time and at this place? How was this political system
organised? And what lessons can we draw from the rise and fall of the Athenian democracy?
In the following, I am going to touch some of these issues while analysing what the basic
ideas of Athenian democracy looked like, comparing the ancient with the modern
understanding and investigating to what extent they might be relevant to current theories of
democracy. Thus, I am going to concentrate more on the abstract, intellectual foundations of
the political system than on concrete manifestations like institutions and procedures. From
my point of view, this approach appears to be more advantageous anyway because the formal
frame could only be applied much harder to modern states than general ideas might be.
As the basic ideas which led to the genesis and shaped the form of democracy may be
considered the power of the people (commonly known as the rule of the people but I am
going to show why this is not the appropriate translation), equality, liberty and the rule of
law. After having examined the nature and consequences of these concepts, I am going to
summarise my results.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The power of the people
- Equality
- Liberty
- The rule of law
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the basic ideas of ancient Greek democracy, focusing on the power of the people, equality, liberty, and the rule of law, and explores their relevance for modern conceptions of democracy. The essay aims to analyze the key concepts of Athenian democracy and compare them to modern understanding, with a particular focus on the abstract foundations of the political system. This approach is chosen to highlight the enduring value of these ideas even as the formal structures of democracy have evolved.
- The Power of the People: Examining the meaning of "popular rule" and its relationship to the concept of direct democracy.
- Equality: Analyzing the concept of "equality of the unequal" in ancient Athenian democracy and comparing it to modern ideas of equality based on natural law.
- Liberty: Exploring the Athenian concept of liberty as it relates to minimal intervention in individual lives and the significance of active citizenship.
- The Rule of Law: Discussing the role of the rule of law in ancient Athenian democracy and its relevance to modern conceptions of legal systems.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introductory chapter explores the enduring fascination with ancient Athenian democracy and its significance for understanding the development of democratic systems. The essay then delves into the concept of "the power of the people," highlighting the difference between the ancient Greek understanding of "demos" and the modern concept of "popular rule." It examines the concept of direct democracy in ancient Athens and contrasts it with the modern division of powers in representative democracies.
The chapter on equality explores the Athenian ideal of "equality of the unequal," which embraced the participation of citizens from diverse backgrounds. This contrasts with the elitist theories of Plato and Aristotle. The chapter also examines the Athenian concept of equality in the context of social and economic concerns, comparing it to modern ideas of equality based on natural law.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Ancient Greek democracy, Athenian democracy, direct democracy, representative democracy, popular rule, power of the people, equality, liberty, rule of law, equality of the unequal, natural law, citizenhood, political participation, political power, political systems.
- Quote paper
- Lisa Wegener (Author), 2008, Basic ideas of ancient Greek democracy and their relevance for modern conceptions of democracy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116688
