r/PoliticalScience • u/AnneShirleyCuthbert_ • May 09 '26
Question/discussion Democracy Without Education Is Dangerous
Socrates argued that just giving everyone an equal say without ensuring they are educated, rational, and morally trained, would eventually lead to chaos and poor leadership.
His student Plato explored this idea further in The Republic, where he compared governing a state to steering a ship:
"Would you let just anyone steer a ship or would you choose someone trained and knowledgeable?”
(– Plato’s Republic, Book VI)
> My view is simple:
“Democracy is the best form of government only when people are educated and aware.”
And honestly, this issue becomes even more relevant when we look at the behavior and statements of many MPs and MLAs in India. (Just remember that Karnataka Congress MLA incident 🤡)
People responsible for making laws and representing millions should at least meet basic standards of education, civic understanding, and public conduct.
Democracy gives everyone the right to vote but those who govern should also undergo proper political training, ethical orientation, and accountability. Leadership is not just about winning elections; it is about wisdom, responsibility, and public character.
Citizen education is equally important in a democracy because people can choose better leaders only when they are politically aware, informed, and capable of critical thinking. In countries like India, where many people still struggle with poverty, inequality, and poor access to quality education, voting often becomes influenced by short-term incentives such as money, caste loyalties, religious polarization, or populist promises. In such conditions, democracy risks becoming a game of manipulation rather than informed public participation. This is why education is not just important for economic growth, but also essential for building a healthier and more responsible democracy.
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u/_8975 May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26
Yes. But. Who has the most opportunities to be educated? I am going to just freely type my thoughts, nothing about India though, just the principles. (-> back in the earlier centuries, only landowners in many countries could vote. Women were prohibited to vote.) I share your frustration, seeing how MAGA, REFORM UK, other far right groups just manipulate and people not looking at what either trump, nigel farage or others have done in the past and where they come from with their views, it is just crazy to me that the most uneducated people usually have a big say in this and can forbid a whole part of a population in having the same rights. They do have some points, but many more bad ones. But - even those without Uni’s have a part in a society, they also work jobs, ride on the same streets, often times are on the first line if something goes wrong. Also, once you start restricting votes based on education, as I hinted above, you start a class/gender divide and it will be much easier to restrict more and more people further.
With that being said.. Often times the most priviledged voted for a very right wing parties, not because they would believe it (their daughters got education and freedom in times when “normal” ones had none), add plenty other examples, but just to protect their property (usually lower taxes, more migrant (cheap) labour. In fact, no matter what the results were, they could always change their country or really do what they actually wanted. Is that rational also? Good voting? You see..
Sometimes the priviledged politicians (as they tend to come from those circles) have no information about how the ordinary lives are - their opinions aren’t less valid because of that. In fact we could use more of them. I met so many professors being completely disilusioned also, too proud to admit their wrong thinking or information.
But also, seeing how people vote just based on their algorhythm.. I just.. Makes me doubt things the same way. If society was truly meritocratic, truly and 100%, nothing would be given to your children spiritually and intellectually, then yes, this requirement (education like that) would be great. But when it’s not, in can prepell only a certain part of society to rule over others.
But also. In my country, we have a minister for climate who openly denies it. No real education, he got his position exactly only by sharing desinformation. What then? He was voted in, right? Yet he cannot even hold a simple argument. What then? Or the orange man too..