Socrates Comes to Darby! Does He Find Democracy? What Do You Think?

There are several definitions for the word democracy. A democracy is a group of common people who are considered as the primary source of political power, a majority rule. Socrates was a fifth century Athenian philosopher who had an enduring commitment for the truth. He had a mission to "expose the ignorance of those who thought themselves wise and to try to convince his fellow citizens that every man is responsible for his own moral attitudes." (The Trial and Death of Socrates, Third Edition, Plato p. iv) Socrates had an indefatigable search for ethical knowledge and he challenged conventional mores that led to his trial and execution on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth. In the book, The Trial and Death of Socrates, Plato describes how Socrates questioned the basic principles of democracy and it's affect on the youth of the era.

Democracy is a good form of government that exhibits government for the people and by the people. However, in the 5th century, a typical democratic government was made up of assemblies of adult male citizens. A number of traveling teachers sophists taught the "art of public speaking" to use as a powerful weapon since all decisions were made by these assemblies of men.

Citizens blindly followed their leaders without question in the 5th century. Rarely did anyone ever investigate or research doctrine. If the majority believed so then that was the way of the world. People would be brought to trial and convicted by huge juries of male citizens. Sometimes the majority of the jury was males who were not of moral character, yet they imposed harsh sentences on those whom they "viewed" as immoral. Socrates threw a wrench into this way of thinking by questioning repetitively those decisions and how and why the decisions were made. Sometimes Socrates confused those to the point of frustration.

Socrates in 2007
In today's society, we are grateful for Socrates' way of thinking and his inquisitive nature. To blindly accept one's word without investigation could have devastating effects. In criminal cases, those who are innocent could be sent to jail, those who are guilty could be set free. In civil matters, taxes could be levied without proper warrant; ordinances could be enacted without proper justification or need.

For example, a large group of individuals, acting as the leaders of a small town in Pennsylvania called Darby, could decide that they need more money to fill their pockets. The majority of the group felt they were not getting paid enough for the amount of work they were doing, or appeared to be doing. The group would decide and enact the law to raise the tax.

However, the group of individuals did not want the residents to know that the money was going to be allocated for personal use.

Therefore, the group of leaders decided to give speeches to the residents proclaiming the high cost of police services. The group of leaders rhetorically grandstanded publicly and emphasized how much crime has risen as the cost of police service has too. Residents blindly believed their leaders without question. They gladly opened their pockets and willingly paid higher taxes. Just imagine if this were the form of government that was in effect today in the twenty first century!

If Socrates were still alive, he would surely be put to death again, after he discovered the truth about why the leaders really wanted to increase the taxes. If Socrates were alive in the Twenty First Century, he would investigate the reason for the rise in taxes. If the leaders of the city said because crime has risen and costs have escalated, Socrates would question and question, investigate and investigate over and over again until he found the proof that either the crime had not risen or indeed has risen and so too the costs. Socrates style is that of a well seasoned, championship fighter. He dances around throwing short jabs and tiring his opponent. He sets the pace and when the time comes he knocks his opponent out mostly through technical knock out punches. He does this because it's the "right thing to do".

When Socrates first learned of the proposed tax rise and the reason for it, he went to the Borough Hall and questioned the leaders. He asked each one individually, what the exact reason was for the tax rise. Each leader gave his or her opinion.

Socrates documented each answer carefully. Plato describes Socrates in "Euthyphro" as telling him he must "investigate again from the beginning". (The Trial and Death of Socrates, Third Edition, Plato p.19) Over 2000 years later, true to form, Socrates went to the Police Department and obtained a listing of the crimes for 2007 and the prior three years. He analyzed the data and calculated whether or not crime and risen or dropped. His next stop was the finance department. There he obtained current copies of records of police equipment and supplies. He also obtained the records of monies spent over the last 3 years. Socrates took this information and critically analyzed and documented the results. The findings showed that crime had dropped drastically over the past 3 years partly because of new training and surveillance equipment that was recently purchased with a federal grant. Now that Socrates had discovered that crime had been reduced, he surmised that costs still had to be calculated and this might possibly be the reason for the rise in taxes. However, upon further investigation, Socrates discovered that federal grants were applied for over the last 3 years that either reduced the costs of the equipment or eliminated the cost depending on the amount of the grant received.

Socrates then decided to educate the residents on the real reason why their taxes were rising, however he wanted to educate them in the process so they too could make educated rational decisions instead of blindly following their leaders. Socrates gathered the residents and accompanied them to a council meeting. One by one, Socrates questioned the council on the crime statistics.

He did not disclose that he knew the answers, but wanted to lock them into an answer without his revelation of the facts. He did the same with the costs of the police equipment. The residents were listening intently to the council members explain how the crime has risen along with the costs. After each official finished with their explanation, Socrates then pulled out the documented facts and "cross examined" the council again. He demonstrated to the residents and the council members how their taxes should in fact be reduced instead of increased. He submitted copy after copy of reduced crime incidents and invoices of police equipment that were paid for by grant money instead of tax money that greatly reduced the equipment costs.

Socrates is arrested and charged again in 2007!
The council was infuriated and issued orders to the police department to charge Socrates with disrupting a public meeting. He was charged and sentenced with censure, never to speak again at a public meeting. However, Socrates was quite pleased with the results. He was happy that he was not sentenced to death or to drink poison, however he was more pleased that the residents learned from him how to investigate and question or address and redress their government.

Socrates' Motivation
According to Plato, Socrates' conversations "aimed at discovering the truth, at acquiring that knowledge and understanding of life and its values that he thought was the very basis of the good life and of philosophy to him a moral as well as an intellectual pursuit." (The Trial and Death of Socrates) Socrates was a man who rather enjoyed philosophizing for free. He did not charge a fee. He freely gave his advice to all who would listen. Plato translates a passage in the "Apology" as Socrates explains his position on wealth and sums up his lifestyle. "Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence brings about wealth and all other public and private blessings for men."(The Trial and Death of Socrates)

Society would be better off if we all had a little bit of Socrates in each one of us. A valuable lesson is learned when we investigate and educate ourselves on current events and issues that affect our lives and the lives around us. People would tend to be more forthright and honest if they knew their answers would be documented and investigated. In a democratic form of government, we the people have the right to investigate information, educate ourselves and hold accountable those who represent us. We also have the right to speak out and "prophesize" as Socrates did. If we all did our part, we would live in a better place, in the "Socrates" style.