ελευθερία

[ablertus]

Although the words "democracy" and "freedom" are used almost interchangeably, the concepts are completely unrelated. Democracy is nothing but the power for the demos. We can reinterpret the demos as "people" (although that is not strictly correct) but even then - it is the POWER for the people. Not freedom for the people, not human rights, not

Comments

[village_fool]

В наших палестинах чего только не называют демократией. Обычно это просто маркер, название чего-либо "хорошего". Типа "Какой Вы демократичный, в очереди даму вперед (не)пропускаете" :) Синонимом слова "демократия" служит слово "Европа" кстати. В вышеприведенную цитату безболезненно можно вставить "европейский" в обоих вариантах.

А демократия это просто зонтичное название пучка методов менеджента. Не более того.

[ablertus]

Именем демократии какую только мерзость не называли и не оправдывали. Также, как и европейскими ценностями. Тут мы не одиноки.

[ogostos]

>>Although the words "democracy" and "freedom" are used almost interchangeably,

By who?

[ablertus]

Read the text below, count how many times the words "freedom and democracy" are used together, and ask yourself whether the author actually makes a distinction between the two:


We must stand together for freedom and democracy: article by Liz Truss

[ogostos]

i don't really see interchangeability in this piece. superficial as it is, the pieces is still using the two terms in complement to each other, not as an equivalent or substitute. That would be too much even for the UK government of the past few years:)

Equating democracy to freedom would be like equating oranges to weather forecast, they simply do not belong in the same logical category. Democracy is nothing more than a form of government, the fact that somebody, whether intentionally or through lack of knowledge, chooses to use this word rhetorically and broadens its meaning does not mean that others should be falling in this trap. A form of government per se cannot be equal to freedom, government is NOT about freedom.

However, i would still adhere to one cigar-lover's statement that democracy is the worst form of government -except for all the others that have been tried. Democracy in itself is an insufficient condition for freedom, but, I would argue, ia necessary one, if humans are to be governed. Unless you know of a way to

[ablertus]

Measuring interchangeability is easy - you just replace one word with the other, and check if the overall meaning remains the same - provided there is one.

Democracy can be used both to increase and to reduce the amount of freedom, based on the "will of the people". Assuming that "people" will always want MORE freedom is a popular fallacy; the counterexamples are innumerable and painfully evident in our country of origin.

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