Plato recognized that power could easily corrupt in politics and was skeptical that good men would be attracted to politics, given its state. Plato has a character named Socrates say, in the Republic, "to be sure, good men will have to go into politics, whether they wish it or not. For, as you say, if they don't, they'll be ruled by people worse than themselves."
The engagement of virtuous people in politics is not presented by Plato as an attractive option but rather as a necessary one to save society from deteriorating into tyranny or anarchy.
And this realization of how important is public policy is the origin for a particular Greek word we use today.
And this realization of how important is public policy is the origin for a particular Greek word we use today.
Idiotes was a private citizen who wasn't involved in public affairs or politics. This didn't imply stupidity or a lack of intelligence. Rather, it referred to someone who was preoccupied with their own private life and showed a lack of concern for the well-being of the community or state. These "idiotes" were not looked down upon for their intelligence but rather for their self-centered focus and disengagement from civic life.
The Athenians encouraged citizens to take part in public decision-making given the welfare of the community depended on active participation from members. In such a culture, the choice to abstain from politics was considered a form of neglect.
We, of course, still have the word democracy from these ancient Greeks and have inherited the word idiot from them as well.
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You'll want to delete this comment, but I wanted to draw your attention to a wonderful interview online. I think you'll like what he has to say about language and education: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/prison-left-me-laughing-a-conversation-with-ngugi-wa-thiongo/
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