And there's probably no better example of this dangerous trend than the birthplace of democracy itself.

這種危險趨勢的最佳例證可能莫過於民主的發源地。

Despite being hailed as one of the greatest accomplishments of ancient Greece.

儘管被譽為古希臘最偉大的成就之一。

It may come as a surprise to many that several Greek philosophers were actually incredibly skeptical about democracy.

許多人可能會感到驚訝的是，幾位希臘哲學家實際上對民主持難以置信的懷疑態度。

The legendary lawgiver of Sparta, like kiss vehemently rejected democracy.

這位傳說中的斯巴達法律制定者，像親吻一樣堅決反對民主。

When someone demanded that Sparta adopt a democratic system of government, he famously replied in typical laconic fashion, begin with your own family.

當有人要求斯巴達採用民主政體時，他以典型的簡潔方式回答說："從你自己的家庭開始。

Another famous critic of democracy was actually Socrates who had every reason to be skeptical as we'll learn why later in Plato's Republic.

另一位著名的民主批評家其實是蘇格拉底，他完全有理由對民主持懷疑態度，我們稍後將在柏拉圖的《共和國》中瞭解原因。

Socrates warns that democracy can end up destroying an entire civilization and to drive this point home, he uses an analogy.

蘇格拉底警告說，民主最終會摧毀整個文明，為了讓人們明白這一點，他打了一個比方。

Imagine a state is like a huge ship on a vast ocean.

想象一下，一個國家就像茫茫大海上的一艘巨輪。

This ship of state needs a skilled captain to navigate through storms, avoid obstacles and reach its destination safely.

這艘國家之船需要一位技術嫻熟的船長來駕馭風暴，避開障礙，安全抵達目的地。

But the captain is elected by popular vote and the decision ends up being a disaster because rather than electing someone who actually understands how to pilot a ship and understands the art of seafaring.

但是，船長是由民眾投票選出的，這個決定最終成為了一場災難，因為選出的人並不是真正懂得如何駕駛船隻、懂得航海藝術的人。

The passengers instead pick someone who is popular, persuasive and promises nice things to the people on board and just like any ship that did, this would probably crash or sink.

乘客們會選擇一個受歡迎、有說服力、對船上的人許諾好東西的人，就像任何一艘船一樣，這艘船很可能會墜毀或沉沒。

So too would any society?

任何社會也是如此嗎？

So what was Socrates Point with this whole ship analogy?

那麼，蘇格拉底用這艘船做比喻的目的是什麼呢？

Is he advocating for a strong man dictator?

他是在鼓吹強人獨裁嗎？

No.

不

What Socrates is saying is that the passengers need to become crew members.

蘇格拉底的意思是，乘客需要成為船員。

If they hope for the ship of state to reach its destination, they need to elect not just a competent captain, but they themselves need to understand how the ship functions.

如果他們希望這艘國家之船能夠到達目的地，他們需要選出的不僅僅是一位稱職的船長，他們自己也需要了解這艘船是如何運作的。

After all.

畢竟

Even the most competent captain cannot pilot a ship on its own without a capable crew.

沒有得力的船員，再能幹的船長也無法獨自駕駛船隻。

But unfortunately, Athens would black both a competent captain and a capable crew.

但遺憾的是，雅典既需要一位稱職的船長，也需要一支能幹的船員隊伍。

Ironically, one of the first victims of this would be Socrates himself in 399 BC.

具有諷刺意味的是，公元前 399 年，蘇格拉底本人就是首批受害者之一。

He was put to death after an assembly voted that he had been corrupting the youth of Athens.

在一次集會上，有人投票認為他敗壞了雅典青年的風氣，於是將他處死。

Socrates fate should have been a warning.

蘇格拉底的命運本應是一個警示。

But instead the city of Athens spent the next century elevating one political demagogue after another.

但是，雅典城在接下來的一個世紀裡卻在抬高一個又一個政治蠱惑者。

Until finally, things came to a head in 23 BC.

直到公元前 23 年，事情終於有了轉機。

After news of the death of Alexander, the great reached Athens.

亞歷山大大帝去世的消息傳到雅典後。

The city was eager to get revenge on their bitter macedonian rivals, Phocion, an admirer of Socrates had served Athens for more than 50 years as a famous politician and general.

蘇格拉底的崇拜者弗吉翁曾作為著名的政治家和將軍為雅典效力 50 多年。

He tried to warn the people that while Alexander was dead.

他試圖警告人們，亞歷山大已經死了。

The army he commanded was still alive.

他指揮的軍隊還活著。

The Phocion was outvoted and Athens started a war with the world's sole superpower.

法奧西翁被淘汰出局，雅典與世界上唯一的超級大國開戰。

And after being crushed in battle, the Athenians begged him to lead the surrender negotiations, fearing that the Macedonians would destroy the city.

雅典人在戰鬥中被擊潰後，擔心馬其頓人會摧毀這座城市，便懇求他主持投降談判。

Phocion managed to save Athens.

弗吉翁設法拯救了雅典。

But at the cost of the city's freedom, Athens was placed under direct Macedonian control and the famed democracy of ancient Greece vanished forever.

但是，雅典以城市自由為代價，被置於馬其頓的直接控制之下，古希臘著名的民主制度永遠消失了。

The story of Athens is a warning sign for us today.

雅典的故事為我們今天敲響了警鐘。

The downfall of its famed democracy and the city's subjugation is proof that no political system is perfect.

聞名遐邇的民主制度的垮臺和這座城市的臣服證明，沒有一種政治制度是完美無缺的。

In fact, it's only as effective as the people who participate in it.

事實上，只有參與其中的人才能發揮最大作用。

Perhaps that's why Thomas Jefferson once warned that if the people ever become inattentive to the public affairs, their political leaders will all become wolves.

也許正因如此，托馬斯-傑斐遜曾警告說，如果人民對公共事務不聞不問，他們的政治領袖都會變成狼。