Funny I always thought it should be the other way around

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If you have non thinkers or men of no honor in the position of fame society deteriorates hence what we have

Agree. This is Plato’s “philosopher king” (Plato’s ‘Republic’).

Need to read those classics again

Socrates spoke within these lines to. Humanity is a failed experiment

Did he say humanity or democracy?

Democracy. I believe he did not favor “democracy” at least the one practiced (he thinks it failed) during that time (he blames that for the death of Socrates). Although one could argue he meant “humanity” or the citizenry, ie he equates such democratic failure (then) to humanity (then) as he thinks a man’s charater reflects the state he lives in. At least that’s how I understands the flow of that thought. 🤷‍♂️

Ah yes I remember democracy but I never equated humanity/citizenry with democracy. I think you may be right - if you unpackage democracy, then citizenry is one of the components

Democracy is a failed experiment

Agreed

Though to Churchills point I’m not sure what is better. In anything I don’t think there are absolutes - forms of govt ebbs and flows through cultures and time

Agree. I think a government borne out of pure human rationality can cause a “constant”. Aristotle, Kant, Spinoza talks about rationality as ultimate end in a way (the highest virtue). Unfortunately we’ve buried that a longtime ago and replaced the reflective capacity to rationalize overpowered by the primitive brain’s “desire”.

Good convo to end my Monday night. Thank you both for engaging.

This is gold!!

As long as another human is in the position of authority to another fundamentally we will have issues

No “humanity is a failed experiment was my personal comment” I have never read on Socrates pertaining democracy