The Multitude · Atlas

in the texts

RepublicClassical · Greek

The general body of ordinary citizens and assemblies whose collective opinion is treated as untrustworthy and hostile to philosophy.

My dear fellow, said I, do not thus absolutely condemn the multitude.

chapter 4 ¶

Can the multitude possibly tolerate or believe in the reality of the beautiful in itself as opposed to the multiplicity of beautiful things, or can they believe in anything conceived in its essence as opposed to the many particulars?

nigrinus ¶

Why, when, I said, the multitude are seated together in assemblies or in court-rooms or theaters or camps or any other public gathering of a crowd, and with loud uproar censure some of the things that are said and done and approve others, both in excess, with full-throated clamor and clapping of hands, and thereto the rocks and the region round about re-echoing redouble the din of the censure and the praise.

suppliants ¶

To DemonicusClassical · Greek

The general body of common people whose opinions, suspicions, and praise shape a person's reputation.

for the praise of a people is better than many possessions.

chapter 1 ¶

for the multitude are ignorant of the truth and look only to reputation.

to demonicus ¶

For you will thus be thought to approve them and emulate them, and as a result you will have greater esteem in the eyes of the multitude and a surer hold on the favor of royalty.

to demonicus ¶

CritoClassical · Greek

The general public or majority, whose opinions Socrates argues should not be esteemed on questions of right and wrong

Socrates.

crito ¶

Socrates.

crito ¶

Socrates.

crito ¶

StatesmanClassical · Greek

The collective body of ordinary citizens considered as a potential political agent, tested and rejected as capable of possessing the kingly science.

Does it seem at all possible that a multitude in a state could acquire this science?

statesman ¶

for we know that a city of a thousand men could never produce that number of finished draught-players in comparison with those in other Greek cities, still less so many kings.

statesman ¶

That no great number of men, whoever they may be, could ever acquire political science and be able to administer a state with wisdom, but our one right form of government must be sought in some small number or one person, and all other forms are merely, as we said before, more or less successful imitations of that.

statesman ¶