Democracy Ancient and Modern

By Moses I. Finley

Book Overview

This elegant and provocative book is perhaps more important now than when it was first published. The three essays that comprised the first edition developed a remarkable discourse between ancient Greek and modern conceptions of democracy, in the belief that each society could help us understand the other. To the original three essays, Sir M. I. Finley has added two that clarify and elaborate the thinking of the first edition. The two new essays, "Athenian Dialogues" and "Censorship in Classical Antiquity" combine with "Leaders and Followers," "Democracy, Consensus, and the National Interest," "Socrates and After" to make this book an unusual inquiry. Few contemporary writers are able to bring to the subject the depth of learning and the persuasive power of language that Sir M. I. Finley brings.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813511275
• ISBN13: 9780813511276
• Release Date: October 1985
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Democracy Ancient and modern

The reason I had purchased this book was to attempt to get into the mind of the contemporary average Greek citizen (Specifically Athens) and to see how they thought, what their intellectual capacities were, and exactly what their capabilities were in the overall political process. I wanted to know if the titantic proportions of apathy that permeates the "democracies" of the world today existed at that time as well. If not, then what created this apathy, and what would be the appropriate pathway that would lead to the implementation of integrity into the political system? The book satisfied my curiousity, and I now have a much better understanding of the contemporary Athenian politica process. I must say, however, that I do not agree with the author's solution.