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Plato?s Critique of Democracy: The Equality of Unequals In order to clearly understand why Plato seems to find democracy and the democratic soul so objectionable one must first understand the definition of what democracy means. Plato?s discord with democracy does not concern the democracy we know today nor does it directly concern Athenian democracy. Rather, it is the Form of democracy in which he criticizes. ?For a Greek (man), democracy, meant the rule of the people? in a much more literal sense than it does for the citizens of most of the modern states which claim to be democracies.? Plato?s charge against democracy is simply that it violates the proper order of society by creating an artificial equality. ?His fundamental criticism of democracy is (essentially) that it is an irrational form of the constitution. It is based on the assumption that every citizen is equally entitled to a say in political affairs, no matter how unsuited he is in terms of ability, character or training? . Basically no matter how ignorant a person may be, they still could find themselves playing a significant role in public affairs. ?The key to a successful political career lay in being able to speak persuasively?for this reason the art