Re: Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Socrates was executed because he questioned the legitimacy of... everything. As a citizen-soldier who showed tremendous courage in battle, he was criticized for his individualism (a quality that didn't work well in a Greek phalanx). After the Athenian military was decimated during a disasterous campaign to conquer Sicily (as part of a desperate attempt to save their empire), Athens was defeated by Sparta and subject to the rule of 30 "tyrants" chosen by the Spartans. Many of these were either followers or friends of Socrates, and in some accounts he gave their anti-democratic rule his wholehearted support (no surprise to anyone who has read The Republic). Socrates' trial and execution come after the overthrow of his friends and restoration of the democracy.
The answer to the question ("who will guard the guardians") is, obviously, no one. Socrates idea that somehow his philiospher rulers would be so virtuous as they could be trusted to rule themselves is ridiculous, and flies in the face of human experience. The fear of being legally held to account for their misconduct is the only thing that can restrain the powerful, whether in a democracy or dictatorship. Then, as now, corruption takes over once that fear is removed.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
