Know Thyself through POLITICAL HISTORY:
I was listening to a lecture about Cimon or Kimon, who was an ancient Greek nobleman, military hero, and prominent politician from Athens. The lecturer discusses what he calls one of the:
‘Most interesting institutions of Athenian democracy in this period was ostracism. Every year, Athens would hold a special election in which the citizens would vote, not for the person they liked the best, but for the person they hated the most. They voted by writing a name on a shard of pottery called an ostracon, several caches of which have been unearthed by archeologists. If a minimus total of 5,000 votes were cast, the top vote-getter was expelled from Athens for 10 years, and if he returned before those 10 years had elapsed, he was executed.’
– Gregory S. Aldrete, PhD, Unsung Heroes of the Ancient World: S1E1 Cimon of Athens From Glory to Disgrace
What do YOU think about this policy? On one hand, I believe it useful for the citizens to have the ability to voice such a strong displeasure with a politician. This is an efficient way of getting rid of bad apples or those that promised to be one way and then acted another. But on the other hand, this is pretty brutal no? Needing only 5,000 votes means political rivals could bribe citizens to get rid of competition. Man f$cking with democracy right from the beginning.
What if this policy were in place today, archaic or brilliant? Who would YOU vote for?
Last Updated on 08/31/2025 by Death of Hypatia Inc.
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