classical greeks Flashcards
Politics in ancient greek was new ?
Politics among the Ancient Greeks was a new way of thinking, feeling, and of being related to one`s fellows
Main principle of the democracy
equality between speaker and listener, equal opportunity to speak in the assembly
Key to have a relation btwn rational beings
persuasion – art of getting what you want
For that, the skill of rhetoric was highly praised durnig politician’s speech
What is the origin of democracy ?
Aristocratic cavalry became outdated
Its members armed themselves, whether they were aristocrats or small farmers
Conditions of freedom in greek socities
- a life among equals
- subject only to law
- ruling and being ruled in turn
What is the activity of citizen ?
doing politics
What was the down side of greek democracy ?
Bitter battles between democratic and oligarchic factions within the cities, slavery were considered as less human, violence, corruption, no rights for women, no rights for foreigners living in the polis
Def of humanist
man is a rational animal and the meaning of human life is found in the exercise of rationality
Why politics is good ?
In deliberating about law and public policy, man found his highest and purest form of expression
def of the Agora
the market-place which also generally served as the arena of politics
isonomia
equality before law
Inequality in democracy
The speakers were predominantly aristocrats who had studied the art of speaking, thus, Many offices were filled by lot but the main officers were elected and were commonly from powerful families
Why the principle of separtion of powers is useful ?
Avoiding despotism – rule by caprice or by the wisdom of one
Wgat was the origin of the separation of power in politics ?
After establishing his reforms, Solon left Athens for ten years, so that the new constitution could be operated by others
Def of the constitution
the set of offices by which a polis was governed and the laws specifying their relations
