 (6).png)
1 day ago
3
ARTICLE AD BOX
Plato argues that indifference towards ‘public affairs’ comes at a cost, you give up your say in how you are governed. Plato was captivated by the way Socrates could challenge even the most confident and powerful individuals, often leaving them puzzled and rethinking their beliefs
"The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." — Plato
Through his words, the notable Greek philosopher signals that when people stop caring about what is happening around them, ‘the public affairs’ — when they disengage, stay silent, or choose not to participate — they create a vacuum.
And that void rarely stays empty for long. It gets filled by those who are often the most ambitious, self-serving, or what Plato describes as “evil men.”
What do Plato's words mean?
At its core, Plato's quote is a powerful line that highlights the essence of democracy.
Broadly, “apathy towards public affairs” refers to not questioning leaders, how systems work, not staying informed, or simply not caring about how policies are implemented — which in turn creates a ripple effect in the society.
Plato argues that this indifference comes at a cost: you give up your say in how you are governed.
Put simply, when responsible and engaged citizens take a step back – “evil men” – who may not have the public's best interests in mind, take charge.
Why is it relevant today?
In a democracy, power lies with the people – but a democracy only functions when people use it.
When people decide to skip voting, decisions end up being made by a small section of the society. When citizens stop questioning those in power, accountability begins to slip. And, when misinformation spreads – truth and facts take a backseat.
In a time, when information is just a click away – so are the chances of the spread of misinformation. And Plato's warning feels more relevant than ever.
More about Plato
Plato was a philosopher from Ancient Greece who lived from around 427 BCE to about 347 BCE. His works laid the foundation for the study of philosophy.
Widely considered the most influential philosopher of all time, Plato is best known for writing a series of dialogues featuring his teacher, Socrates (c. 469-399 BCE).
Historical accounts state that Plato was born into one of the most prominent families in Athens. As a young man, he became deeply fascinated by Socrates — a man who spent his days in public spaces questioning people and engaging them in debate.
Plato was captivated by the way Socrates could challenge even the most confident and powerful individuals, often leaving them puzzled and rethinking their beliefs. Drawn to his sharp mind and unconventional approach, Plato eventually became his student.
About the Author
Livemint
For about a decade, Livemint—News Desk has been a credible source for authentic and timely news, and well-researched analysis on national news, business, personal finance, corporates, politics and geopolitics. We bring the latest updates on all the listed companies on BSE and NSE, startups, mutual funds, Union ministries, geopolitics, and untapped human interest stories from around the world, helping our readers to stay informed on the latest developments around the globe. Our Coverage Areas 1. Companies: Comprehensive news and analysis on listed and unlisted companies, corporate announcements, corporate chatter, C-suite, business trends, hiring alerts, layoffs, work-life balance, world's top billionaires and richest and more. 2. Personal finance: Insights into mutual funds, small savings schemes like - PPF, SSY, post office savings scheme, stock to watch, personal loans, credit cards, top bank FDs, real estate, income tax and more. 3. Politics: Comprehensive coverage of general elections, state elections and bypolls, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Parliament, PMO, PIB, finance ministry, home ministry, among other union ministries and government departments. 4. National News: From metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and e to untapped stories from rural India, we cover human interest, health, education, crime and courts, and law and order, among other areas of public interest. 5. Economy: In-depth analysis of India's macro and micro-economic indicators like- GDP, inflation, forex, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, interest rate cycle, economic recovery, RBI circulars, indirect taxes, GST, Insolvency and Bankruptcy imports, exports and everything that impacts Indian economy. 6. Geopolitics: Well-rounded and deeply researched coverage on US News, Oval Office European Union, Ukraine Russia War, middle-east crisis, royal families and global leaders like - Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and premiers of other leading economies in the world. Meet the Team 1. Gulam Jeelani, Political Affairs Editor 2. Sugam Singhal, Senior Assistant Editor 3. Chanchal, Assistant Editor 4. Sanchari Ghosh, Chief Content Producer 5. Pratik Prashant Mukane, Chief Content Producer 6. Sayantani Biswas, Chief Content Producer 7. Ravi Hari, Deputy Chief Content Producer 8. Garvit Bhirani, Deputy Chief Content Producer 9. Akriti Anand, Senior Content Producer 10. Jocelyn Felix Fernandes, Senior Content Producer 11. Swastika Das Sharma, Content Producer 12. Mausam Jha, Content Producer 13. Riya R Alex, Trainee Content Producer
English (US) ·