Abstract

ARIZA-RODRIGUEZ, Sergio Reinel. The theory of Greek democracy. Rev. Cient. Gen. José María Córdova [online]. 2019, vol.17, n.27, pp.602-623. ISSN 1900-6586.  https://doi.org/10.21830/19006586.502.

In this essay, I review the assessments of Greek democracy by Pericles in the History of the Peloponnesian War of Thucydides, by Plato in The Republic, and by Aristotle in Politics. I intend to highlight and develop some facets of these writings. In the case of Pericles, I draw attention to the strategy of justifying the democratic regime as a necessary framework for the development of some traditional virtues, which make Athens and its inhabitants an educational model for all of Greece. Concerning Plato, he emphasized the use of Platonic psychology to criticize democracy and show the dialectical evolution of this regime. While Aristotle, emphasized the positive reception of some democratic institutions for his political thought, although he is critical of Athenian democracy.

Keywords : ancient history; democracy; freedom; Pericles; political system; politics.

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