Politics is an ancient concept among the human beings that was formulated and devolved into various forms to fit into their specific needs. However, the despite its unanimous widespread across the world, the ancient Greek are specifically the ones accredited to the invention of politics in its technical sense. The Greek political ideologies are among their oldest works which have had immense influence not only in the olden days but also in the contemporary societal political institutions and regimes. The simple reason for the study of politics in the ancient Greek is because they offer some contributions to the contemporary democratic that is hard to obtain from any other subject matter. This essay will thus discuss the origin of political thought: the ancient Greeks, their unique nature of political thinking, participation, authority, and the public vs. the private.
The Ancient Greeks
Generally, the ancient Greeks are known to be great warriors, actors, architects, thinkers, and politicians. They considered themselves as one people in that they shared the same culture, language, and religion. Politically, however, people were divided into many city-states which they referred to as polis, and that were ruled independently and that defended their own independence (Goff " Leonard, 2015). In ancient Greece, political unity was not common, unless it was imposed from outside by the conquers like the Romans. The system of government among the ancient Greeks was varied as they sought to answer fundamental question partitioning to who and how they ought to rule the society, sovereignty, officials, the constitution, and also citizenry. Being unable to settle on a definitive answer to these questions, the Greeks took extraordinarily different forms to establish some common grounds across its different city-states to decide who would be vested with the ultimate power and establish some form of democracy (Goff " Leonard, 2015).
Unique Nature of Political Thinking
Greece political way of thinking differed with that of the rest of the world, and that could have been triggered by the fact that they were the first people in the world to experience civilization. The Greeks always raised questions about customs, laws, and the constituent political association, always pointing out basic concepts like the origin and nature of the state, administration, and the relationship between an individual and the state. Some thinkers advocated for moral relativism which stated that nomoi was solely based on convention (Lane, 2014). Traditionally, the downtrodden Greek citizens, according to the gods, were not to be politically oppressed. However, with most Greeks being non-religious, this political notion was profusely challenged by Protagoras of Abdera, a Sophists, who claimed that human beings were the measure to everything thus instilling doubt in religion in relation to politics (Lane, 2014).
In another aspect, some Greeks drew a variance between indiscriminate and legitimate power use or force application. This category of political thinkers advocated that realization of objectives through force was uncalled for and that those in power should have avoided it at all cost. Through this argument, most of the Greeks, mostly the poor, tended to support and advocate for democracy since human society could not be exempted from cosmos as it was governed by law (Raaflaub, 2015). There was an increase in the emphasis for rule of law which should have been applied to both the ruler and the rule. Nonetheless, other thinkers such as the Thucydides had a different attitude: they opposed the rule of justice and upheld naturalness of the law. To them, the weak and the poorly devised rule of law to shield from oppression by the rich. However, genuine and sincere moral standards ought to allow the strong people in the society to unleash and practice their natural tendencies; the mighty ought to fulfill their wish and the weak to suffer the inevitable. All these political thoughts, though, increased confusion, and that prompted rivalry between the city-states in Greece.
Political Participation
In Greece, not all of its social members could take part, or was privileged to participate in the State’s political affairs. Only the full equals were equally treated in matters pertaining to political participation, and they were understood as the kalokagathia-comprising of only the well-born, the elite and wealthy landowners (Lane, 2014). Other few portions treated as equals to the elite on basis of democratic enfranchisements were native-born and free men above 18 years who were, by a simple who of hand, could be allowed to vote and speak in the assembly. Out of all the population, an estimated 3000 people, (10-20% of the polis) were considered as citizens legit to participate in political matters (Lane, 2014). A small portion of this population, around 100 wealthiest, best-speaking and influential citizens were dominant in political arena both in the private and behind the scene political constitutional gatherings and also in front of the assembly. The minors, old, salves, women, and working class, on the other hand, were denied citizenship and political participation, and the reason behind this was because they were assumed to lack what it took to execute state duties; they were unskilled, had poor speculative and reasoning mind and, lacked leisure (Lane, 2014).
Political Authority
Greek government and political authority in the many city-states started with monarchy led by a Spartan male with inherited role, then oligarchy headed by a select few to tyranny led by a single person who had acquired power through unconstitutional means to protect their interest, and finally by democracy where people decided on ruling themselves (Raaflaub, 2015). The government assembly met twice or thrice on a monthly basis through which they discussed and decided on matters surrounding magistracies, maintenance and organizing of food supply and, deciding on military affairs. In Athens assembly was a small executive committee body, boule, which prioritized and discussed issues tabled at the main assembly and deciding on emergency matters like war. Although Greeks tried as much to establish effective democracy, it became impossible since the city-states were always n constant fights, and equality of all gender and social classes had no place in such a society (Raaflaub, 2015).
The Public vs. Private Realm
In ancient Greece, public and private realms were clearly defined in that citizens had their personal households like slaves and family over which they had a full despot, and also joined forces with other citizens to discuss and run economic and family affairs (Asmonti, 2015). Despite the citizens being free of any form of productive labor, their position was highly depended on their role as household or Oikos heads. The public realm, on the other hand, was the home of the political realm where speech and actions were executed; directions on the social laws and rules were debated and decided upon. The public sphere was the only realm of permanence and freedom; the only place where excellence and distinction were possible (Asmonti, 2015).
Conclusion
The Greece political thoughts may have left many aloof since they lacked uniformity and common grounds of agreement. Nonetheless, the Greeks had a profound influence on modern political institutions not only because of their efficient city-state management and secular outlook but also their rational mind on political matters, more so the highly upheld and overemphasized the issue of democracy. Like the ancient Greeks thinkers, modern people ought to act virtuously regardless of the opposing they face and stick up for legality and lawfulness rather than focusing on a narrow abstract law conception.
References
Asmonti, L. (2015). Gentrifying The "Demos": Aristocratic Principles and Democratic Culture in Ancient Athens. Studi Classic E Oriental, 61(1), 55-75. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24640686
Goff, B., " Leonard, M. (2015). Introduction: The Legacy of Greek Political Thought. Classical Receptions Journal, 8(1), 1-10.
Lane, M. (2014). Ancient political philosophy. https://philpapers.org/rec/LANAPP
Raaflaub, K. A. (2015). Ancient Greece: The Historical Needle's Eye of Modern Politics and Political Thought. Classical World, 109(1), 3-37.
