After many years we met with my protoxadelfo Aleco Christakis, a distinguished Greek scholar living permanently in the U.S., a modest man who has devoted his scientific journey trying to show not only the theoretical value of democratic debate and the practical benefits that can to raise the societies and states of their trust in ideas and opinions of ordinary citizens. In this great man who inspired primarily by the ancient Greek culture and Athenian democracy is our duty to make better known to the Greek public, particularly young people particularly at this juncture, we need to deepen democracy at all levels.
A lot of people aware of only aischyleia version of supplies myth in which Zeus shows severe punishment of demigod. Chained, explains the dance of Okeanidon, f. 505-506: "Short and mytho always learn collectively, pasai ARTS vrotoisin of Prometheus'" And with a brief reason I say you know, the Prometheus owe people all the arts " (mtf. Grypari). In aischyleia version Jupiter remains estranged, indifferent to the fate of man. Supreme hero humane, humanist symbol of Prometheus, as we know, without anything to diminish the greatness and worth. It is widely known that this version of the tragedy of Aeschylus' Prometheus Bound. "
But fewer know the platonic version as we find in the "Protagoras".
In this dialogue Plato explains with incredible objectivity, fairness and generosity (characteristic of ancient Greek culture) the views of his opponent sophist Protagoras to the fundamental value of the opinion in the democratic process of opinion as "heart" of democracy.
The initial question of dialogue on the political virtue. If you have explored all the people (enough to learn properly). If yes, democracy is meaningless because anyone can express an opinion on the political governance of the city or the country, even if they are connoisseurs. This is the belief of Protagoras, believes that political virtue is instructive because man is naturally endowed to seek political virtue. In the habit of the season and especially the sophists, Protagoras answered the challenging questions of Socrates with an extensive floor invoked as a source of valid views of the foundation of the myth of Prometheus.
So still a risk that the torn human species, says Protagoras, (whose arguments with amazing accuracy rescues Plato) having deprived the art to arrange the harmony and peaceful coexistence.
Then Zeus decided to send Hermes to the people, to give a "shame and trial" to a class in the cities and "bonds of friendship synagogue.
Hermes asks Zeus, how to divide people the justice and wisdom, like the arts? Who else knows medicine and is enough to cure many common people and others are artisans offering their services?
Or to share the wisdom and justice to all without exception? "As always, Effie Zeus", "All said Jupiter, we all have the same share. In Protagoras, everyone is equipped with decency and trial and therefore able to pass laws. The law is a godsend, not made "from above" by experts. The deepest and most essential point of Athenian democracy is the introduction of laws by citizens themselves and confidence in the ability of individuals to be responsible for minor or major affairs of the city.
The Platonic dialogue deals in depth with their advantages and disadvantages of the value of citizen opinion for the self-institution, for matters requiring "political" decisions. In Athenian democracy there are no professional politicians or pundits (which Hannah Arendt has characterized the "enemies" of citizenship). All archoun and archontai. These are well-known things.
As it comes from the above narration, Protagoras believes that every man has the faculty and the right to constitute laws and regulations concerning his self-government, due to aidos and diki, with which he is equipped. Law is neither given by God nor made by experts.
This is the essential in the ancient Athenian democracy: going beyond the majority rule. Democracy is the culture to trust every human being’s capacity to govern and being governed, everyone’s responsibility for the minor or major political issues of his “polis”. No professionals, no experts (Hannah Arendt would call them “enemies” of the citizen). In “Protagoras” dialogue Socrates tries to criticize and destruct sophist’s theory. This contradistinction opens the mind to this multifaceted world which we first have to understand. Isegoria has to do ultimately, except the equality to deliberation and law-making with respectful coexistence.
Without ignoring or withholding the undoubted imperfections of ancient Greek democracy, Cornelius Castoriades, characterized the political element of Athenian paradigm “sperm” for the future societies.
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