Born Free - Eleutheria
In Athena, “to be free” was meant of those who were free-born or in the sense of being a born citizen. It was the opposite of being slave. The status of an eleuthero (e.born free) is the ability to be born free and democratic equal in everything (Hansen, 2009). Slaves and women were not part of the political and direct voting system of Athens. Since slavery was common in many poleis then “evidently, this general notion of eleutheria is not the notion of political liberty” (Hansen, 2009).
Freedom
Fundamental similarities can be found between modern democracy and Athenian, political convictions and ideas about democracy as well as freedom and equality. Fundamentally differences can also be found such as owning slaves and their different view on polytheistic religion and the separation between religion and politics were often unclear (Balot, 2006). In modern society democratic means all people of state can and are involved in…show more content… Each member could only serve twice. Cleisthenes often titled as “the father of Athenian democracy”, played a big part in ensuring high percentage of participation among Athenian and by participating citizenry got involved and informed in every day’s matter of running democracy (Balot, 2006, p. 50). “This encouraged a culture of participation, a meaningful context for freedom and self-determination, and a concrete legal framework within which Athenian citizens could justifiably view themselves as political equal” (Balot, 2006, p. 49).
The values of the laws, freedom, democracy, the justice, and equality do not necessarily lead to action. Citizens must know their value and take responsibility for implementing and enforcing them. “As the orator Demosthenes once pointed out, the laws remained inert letters on stone if the citizens did not take self-conscious responsibility for them” (Balot, 2006, p. 53).
