Democracy, Justice, and Equality in Ancient Greece

Readers will discover research on the lessening of economic inequality during the Athenian democracy, and consideration of Plato's critique of Greek participatory democracies. Early chapters look at Plato's proposals such as abolition of private property for the ruling classes and his ideal constitution. Other papers discuss Socrates or Aristotle's views that are particularly relevant to contemporary political and economic disputes about freedom, slavery, the status of women, and public education, to name a few. This thorough consideration of the ancient Greeks' work on democracy and equality will appeal to scholars and researchers of the history of philosophy, as well as those with an interest in political philosophy.

Introduction.- Chapter 1. Institutions, Growth, and Inequality in Ancient Greece (Josiah Ober).- Chapter 2. Economic Inequality, Poverty, and Democracy in Athens (Claire Taylor).- Chapter 3. Plato on Equality and Democracy (Christopher J. Rowe).- Chapter 4. Inequality, Intention, and Ignorance: Socrates on Punishment and the Human Good (Terry Penner).- Chapter 5. Like-Mindedness: Plato's Solution to the Problem of Faction (Catherine McKeen and Nicholas D. Smith).- Chapter 6. Plato on Inequalities, Justice, and Democracy (Gerasimos Santas).- Chapter 7. Justice, Distribution of Resources, and (In)equalities in Aristotle's Ideal Constitution (Georgios Anagnostopoulos).- Chapter 8. Aristotle on Freedom and Equality (David Keyt).- Chapter 9. Virtue, Equality and Inequality in Aristotle's Politics (Deborah K. W. Modrak).- Chapter 10. Aristotle on Inequality of Wealth (Paula Gottlieb).- Chapter 11. Aristotle on Democracy and the Marketplace (Fred D. Miller, Jr.).- Chapter 12. Equal but Not Equal: Plato and Aristotle on Women as Citizens (Dorothea Frede).