PLATON’S CRITIQUE OF DEMOCRACY IN THE POLITEIA (REPUBLIC): POLITICS AS EPISTEME

Authors : Umut Dağ

Pages : 195-209

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Publication Date : 2025-03-28

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study aims to examine Plato’s critique of democracy in the Republic. This study consists of three parts. First part of this study Plato’s critiques of democracy will be examined. There are two arguments that constitute critiques of Plato on democracy. The selfishness of people and unqualified rulers are introduced as his two important critiques. The first argument is that Democracy encourages people to be selfish and strengthens their selfish feelings. This leads to the weakening of social ties and excessive individualism. The second argument is that since the numerical majority determines the government in a democracy, unqualified people become the head of the state. Second part of this study, Plato’s critique of democracy will be explained by his understanding of politics as episteme. He clarifies his ideas and understanding of politics basically based on his metaphysics and epistemology. His political philosophy is directly related to his understanding of epistemology that is the core aspect of his metaphysical theory. By politics, as episteme, it means that people who have true knowledge of politics and expertise in this field. According to Plato, politics as episteme does not belong to any ordinary citizen who lacks skills including using reason properly through dialectics and disciplining passions only philosophers have this knowledge and features that differentiate them from others. The distinction between belief and knowledge creates politically hierarchical governing. In the last part of this study, Plato’s critiques of democracy will be evaluated.
Keywords : Demokrasi, Özgürlük, Episteme, Doksa, Eşitlik