Plato wanted to solve the people s misguided ignorance with philosopher kings who had special training and insight into what is truth. They were not supposed to own anything and thus have interests outside the truth and to have an orderly sex life. Anything else could disturb their reasonable spectacle The only ones who have supported such a thought are a few philosophers. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes said the ancient Romans. Who are the guards guarding Lenin was onto such a thought about philosopher kings through the theory of full time intellectual party leaders who had a superior insight compared to ordinary people. We saw how it went.
The tragedy of communism in the th century was that it had no mechanisms to prevent personal madness and usurpation of power Stalin, for example nor open systems of knowledge that could correct wrong investments in the economy, or open debate or criticism of irrationality, prejudice and persecution. Hence an economy whatsapp mobile number list that stagnated and could not create new formations, and which led to massive environmental destruction cf. the dried up Lake Baikal Democracy is argumentatively based. It does not prevent ignorance, disdain for the truth and conspiracy hysteria from being spread under the cover of freedom of expression for example Trump onclusion democracy must be constantly fought for.
Democracy s respect for different forms of faith Democracy is the form of government that gives the widest possible space for different religions. Freedom of spirit is democracy s foremost civilizational norm. Precisely because democracy does not give one religion priority over others, democracy helps to dampen potential religious controversies. That does not prevent religious persecution from flourishing in democracies. Modi s discrimination against Muslims in today s India based on an authoritarian Hinduism is one example. Minorities can be persecuted in democracies this is the dark side of democracy cf. what Norwegian society has done to the Sami and Roma The democratic peace รก la Immanuel Kant Democracies rarely attack each other, but defend themselves against authoritarian and or totalitarian enemies.