First Democracy: The Challenge of an Ancient Idea

by Paul Woodruff

Book Overview

Americans have an unwavering faith in democracy and are ever eager to import it to nations around the world. But how democratic is our own "democracy"? If you can vote, if the majority rules, if you have elected representatives--does this automatically mean that you have a democracy? In this eye-opening look at an ideal that we all take for granted, classical scholar Paul Woodruff offers some surprising answers to these questions.
Drawing on classical...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195304543
• ISBN13: 9780195304541
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.9" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

great boook

i bought this book because i had a lot of people who should read it.The auther knows the subject greek democry very well.it should be in schools and should be the first step in children education on the ideas of what a goverment should be.read this book and talk to others

In depth loook into ancient (1st) Democracy

Woodruff's work is excellent, pulling together the culture and society of Ancient Greece to examine the motivations, methods and incidents affecting early democracy. His seven attributes of Democracy, Freedom from Tyranny, Harmony, Rule of Law, Natural Equality, Citizen Wisdom, Reasoning without Knowledge and Education are well thought out and presented using the historical content as vivid examples to help the reader. While I beleive his arguement for Natural Equality is not strong in the context of the ancient greeks, the compilation of these ideas and how they can relate to modern democracies are important issues that should be delt with in both academia and the legislature.

A provocative presentation of the democratic "sine qua non"

First Democracy: The Challenge Of An Ancient Idea by Paul Woodruff (Darrel K. Royal Professor in Ethics and American Society and Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Philosophy, The University of Texas at Austin) is an engaging and descriptive analysis of democratic national empowerment, providing a conclusive grasp of what democracy really is (or was), in an extensive study of the Greek city of Athens from which the democratic idea of a governmental system originated. First Democracy provides readers with an understanding of the barriers preventing contemporary America in the opening decade of the 21st century from being a true democracy, as well as offering readers a provocative presentation of the democratic "sine qua non": freedom from tyranny, social harmony, the rule of law, natural equality, citizen wisdom, reasoning without knowledge, and general education. A highly portable paperback that can be taken (and read) anywhere, First Democracy is very strongly recommended to all students of philosophy, political science, and the ancient Greece city state of Athens.

A "must have" for everybody

Rarely have I read a more clearly expressed definition of democracy and how the USA is not one. I am going to give this book to a lot of people to make them think. It would be a book for all high schools and colleges everywhere because it raises healthy questions about government and power. Even though the topic is a complex one the author has produced a wonderful and readable essay. Philosophy is not yet dead. Hurrah!!!

First Democracy

An overview of what democracy really is, where and how it started, why the US is NOT a democracy and what we can do about it. Easy and excellent read. Our legislators need this book!