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δῆλον γὰρ κτλ. It is the ἀνήρ rather than the πολιτεία which is the ultimate object of our search; but as the ἀνήρ in a democracy will be δημοκρατικός τις, we cannot understand him until we understand δημοκρατία. Hence the question ποία τιςπολιτεία. Cf. 545 B, C.

ἐλευθερίας . ἐλευθερία was the fundamental ὑπόθεσις of ancient democracy: ὑπόθεσις μὲν οὖν τῆς δημοκρατικῆς πολιτείας ἐλευθερία, says Aristotle Pol. Z 2. 1317^{a} 40. Cf. 562 B. It involves, according to Aristotle l.c., two ideas, viz. (1) τὸ ἐν μέρει ἄρχεσθαι καὶ ἄρχειν, (2) τὸ ζῆν ὡς βούλεταί τις (ib. 1317^{b} II). Throughout this chapter Plato illustrates the second of these characteristics. Cf. Whibley Gk Olig. pp. 33—35.

παρρησία and ἐξουσία are democratical watchwords; see e.g. Gorg. 461 E, Eur. Hipp. 422, Ion 671 ff., and Thuc. VII 69 (τῆςἀνεπιτάκτου πᾶσιν ἐς τὴν δίαιταν ἐξουσίας) with II 37. 2 and infra 557 D, 563 E, Arist. Pol. Z 4. 1318^{b} 39 al.

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  • Commentary references from this page (2):
    • Euripides, Hippolytus, 422
    • Plato, Gorgias, 461e
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