Introduction: Why Critique Democracy?

In previous chapters, we looked at how the Athenians built their democracy and how leaders like Pericles praised it as a "school for Hellas." But not everyone in Athens was a fan. This chapter explores the "haters"—the critics who believed that letting the "ordinary people" run the city was a recipe for disaster. We will look at two very different perspectives: the Old Oligarch (a practical, grumpy critic) and Plato (a deep-thinking philosopher).

Understanding these critiques is vital for your H408/34 exam because it helps you evaluate whether Athenian democracy actually worked or if it was just "mob rule" in disguise. Don't worry if the philosophy feels a bit "heavy" at first—we will break it down into simple analogies!

1. The Old Oligarch (Pseudo-Xenophon)

The "Old Oligarch" is a nickname given to an unknown author who wrote a pamphlet called The Constitution of the Athenians. We call him "Pseudo-Xenophon" because people used to think the historian Xenophon wrote it, but it doesn't quite match his style.

The Core Argument: The Old Oligarch hates democracy, but he begrudgingly respects how well the Athenians have designed it to protect the interests of the poor (the demos).

A "Bad" System Done "Well" (Sections 1.1–1.20)

The author starts by saying he does not approve of the Athenians choosing a system that favors "base" people over "excellent" people (the aristocrats). However, he admits that if you want a democracy, the Athenians are doing it exactly right.

• Who does the work? He points out that the "common people" drive the ships and give the city its power. Because they provide the naval "muscle," they feel they deserve the political "say."
• The "Base" vs. the "Good": To the Old Oligarch, the poor are naturally "ignorant" and "disorderly," while the rich are "disciplined" and "virtuous." He thinks it is crazy to let the ignorant make big decisions, but he realizes that a democracy where only the "good" speak would soon stop being a democracy.

Social Control and the "Island" Strategy (Sections 2.9–2.10, 2.14–3.13)

The Old Oligarch notices some weird things about Athens that make sense once you understand their "pro-poor" logic:

• Spoilt Slaves: He complains that you aren't allowed to hit slaves in Athens. Why? Because the poor citizens look so much like slaves that you might accidentally hit a citizen! This shows how democracy "levels" everyone down.
• Naval Supremacy: He explains that Athens' power comes from the sea. This allows them to act like they live on an island. If they were a land power, they would be scared of their neighbors. Being a sea power means they can raid others while their own land remains safe. This naval focus keeps the demos (the rowers) in charge.

Key Takeaway: The Old Oligarch thinks democracy is morally wrong but practically brilliant for keeping the poor in power and the rich in their place.

2. Plato: The Philosophical Critique

Plato is much more concerned with truth and justice than the Old Oligarch. In his famous work, The Republic, he argues that ruling is a skill (like medicine or navigation) and shouldn't be left to people who haven't studied it.

The Qualities of a Ruler (6.485–487a)

Plato argues that the best rulers are Philosopher Kings. He believes a true leader must have a "love for truth" and "hatred of falsehood." They shouldn't care about money or physical pleasures; they should only care about the soul and the "Forms" (the perfect versions of ideas like Justice).

The Ship of State Analogy (6.488–489)

This is Plato’s most famous argument against democracy. Imagine a ship:

• The Owner (The Demos): He is bigger and stronger than everyone else, but he is a bit deaf, short-sighted, and knows nothing about seafaring.
• The Sailors (The Politicians): They are all fighting with each other to get control of the helm. They haven't studied navigation, and they even claim it can't be taught! They use wine and drugs to trick the Owner into letting them steer.
• The True Pilot (The Philosopher): He spends his time watching the stars, the wind, and the seasons. The sailors mock him as a "stargazer" or "useless," but he is the only one who actually knows how to steer the ship.

The Lesson: In a democracy, we choose leaders because they are good at winning votes (tricking the Owner), not because they actually know how to run a country.

The "Great Beast" Analogy (6.493)

Plato compares the Athenian public to a huge, powerful wild animal. He says that politicians (the Sophists) are like trainers who study the beast's moods. They learn what noises make it angry and what snacks make it happy. They call the things that please the beast "good" and the things that annoy it "bad." They don't care about what is actually right; they just care about keeping the beast calm.

Quick Review: Plato thinks democracy is a "mob rule" where the "unfit" lead the "unwilling" based on popularity rather than knowledge.

3. Comparing the Two Critics

While both men dislike democracy, their reasons are different:

• Class vs. Knowledge: The Old Oligarch hates democracy because it hurts the aristocracy (his social class). Plato hates it because it ignores wisdom (his philosophical ideal).
• Practicality vs. Morality: The Old Oligarch thinks the system is effective for the poor. Plato thinks the system is broken because it can never reach the truth.

Exam Tips and Common Mistakes

• Common Mistake: Don't assume the Old Oligarch is being nice when he says the Athenians "do it well." He is being sarcastic and cynical—he thinks it's a "good" way to do a "bad" thing.
• AO2 Tip: When writing an essay, use the Ship of State analogy to criticize the Assembly or the Lottery system. Ask yourself: "Would you want to go on a cruise where the captain was chosen by a random lottery or a popularity contest?"
• Memory Aid: Remember the "Three S's" for Plato: Ship of State, Stargazer (the philosopher), and Soothe the Beast (the politicians).

Key Takeaways Summary

1. The Old Oligarch: Democracy is a clever tool used by the "base" rowers of the fleet to exploit the rich and stay in power.
2. Plato (The Ship): Democracy is dangerous because it puts "ignorant sailors" (politicians) in charge instead of the "True Pilot" (the philosopher).
3. Plato (The Beast): Democratic leaders don't seek the truth; they just try to keep the "Great Beast" (the public) happy so they can stay in power.