An Athenian Fear of Oligarchy

Marilyn Wedge, PhD in Psychology Today writes about how the Athenians feared that their democracy would turn into oligarchy. They drew lots for government officials, we vote.

This is still an important fear for those who those who support democracy in our country. Plato describes their fears well in The Republic. Plato believed oligarchy was government by “greedy men” who love money and are reluctant to pay taxes for the common good. Plato bends the word oligarchy (government by the few) a bit to government by the few wealthy.

The greedy oligarchs believe they are their fellow rich should be given wealth  into their hands while the rest of society is reduced to poverty. Bill Moyers recently noted this similarity to the Athenians when referring to the recent Supreme Court decision that changed the law of the land to make corporations persons which in turn gives them more say that others in the electoral process; or better, a louder voice via media ad purchases.

Athenians saw the dangers of democracy polarizing their country and we certainly see that in evidence today. Again, as Plato puts it, “hate and power plot against one another” or oligarchy by nature is a breeding ground for class warfare.

Plato goes on to speak of the moral cost of oligarchy, “he is not really one person, but in some way a double man” or oligarchs try to appear respectable but are not really virtuous. Oligarchs lose the ability to have genuine concern of the well beings of persons and society.

In my opinion the Athenians have much to teach us as I fear we have already become an oligarchy and need to find a way back to democracy.