Socrates was deeply skeptical of Athenian democracy and warned that, without wisdom and education, it could slide into chaos and rule by demagogues. He did not simply “hate democracy,” but believed political power should be treated as a skill that requires training, just like medicine or navigation.

What Did Socrates Say About Democracy?

Core idea in one line

For Socrates, democracy is dangerous when citizens vote based on ignorance and emotion instead of knowledge and virtue.

His main criticisms

  • Voting is a skill, not a right by default :
    Socrates compares politics to sailing a ship: you would not choose a captain by random popularity, but by seafaring expertise. Likewise, he argues that only people who have trained their minds and character should be making political decisions.
  • Majority rule without knowledge is reckless :
    He worries that most citizens in Athens lack the understanding needed to judge complex policy questions. If the untrained majority leads, the city risks a kind of “shipwreck” of the state.
  • Danger of demagogues :
    Socrates warns that smooth-talking leaders can manipulate crowds with flattery, fear, and emotional slogans rather than rational argument. Such demagogues tell people what feels good now, not what is truly good for them in the long run.
  • Freedom without discipline can decay into chaos :
    He observes that democracies tend to overvalue freedom and pleasure, neglecting order, self-control, and responsibility. Left unchecked, this moral looseness can destabilize the city and open the door to tyrannical figures promising to “restore order.”
  • His own trial as a warning sign :
    Socrates is condemned to death by a democratic jury in Athens, which he sees as a result of prejudice, hurt pride, and misunderstanding rather than a calm search for truth. This outcome reinforces his belief that uneducated mass judgment can be gravely unjust.

Famous images and examples

  • The ship of state :
    In Plato’s dialogues, Socrates asks: if you were sailing to a distant island in a storm, would you let anyone vote on who captains the ship, or only those trained in navigation? His point is that a city is even more complex than a ship, so leadership should not rest purely on majority whim.
  • The doctor vs. the sweet-shop owner :
    Socrates imagines an “election” between a doctor and a seller of sweets.
* The sweet-shop owner says: “This doctor hurts you, gives you bitter potions, and forbids you from eating what you like; I will give you pleasant things.”

* The doctor’s honest reply would be: “I cause you trouble and go against your desires to keep you healthy.”

Socrates asks: who will win the vote? The crowd will likely pick the sweet- shop owner, even if the doctor is better for them. For him, this shows how easily democracy can reward short-term pleasure over long-term good.

Did Socrates completely reject democracy?

  • He did not simply advocate for a tiny closed elite to rule forever.
  • Instead, he argues for something like an “intellectual democracy” : political participation should be tied to education, rational thinking, and moral character.
  • He wants citizens to be trained in:
    • Philosophy and critical thinking
    • Virtue and self-discipline
    • Knowledge of justice and the common good

In other words, Socrates’ message is: if you want democracy, you must invest heavily in educating citizens, or you will drift toward demagoguery and disaster.

Why his ideas feel timely now

Modern discussions about misinformation, populism, and “strongman” leaders echo Socrates’ warnings. His core question still hits hard: should every opinion in politics count the same, regardless of knowledge and responsibility, or should we first demand serious civic education and character?

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