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What would our country look like if only the educated could vote? Modern democracy is not an intellectual democracy, but a democracy by birthright — much to the chagrin of Socrates. An informative video briefly discusses the philosopher's views on an uninformed electorate, including the ultimate irony of said electorate determining his own death.
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CCSS:
Adaptable
Concepts
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Instructional Ideas
- Show to your class during an election year when discussing voting rights
- Have class members write an argument essay in which they argue for or against an intellectual democracy
Classroom Considerations
- Compares the execution of Socrates to the crucifixion of Christ, a comparison that may be apt to some members of your class and offensive to others
- Comment section is open to the public and full of opinions, most of them political
- This video is hosted on YouTube
Pros
- Uses an analogy of a sweet shop owner and a doctor as politicians trying to get elected
- Includes interesting details of Socrates's life and death
- Cautions against demagoguery
Cons
- None