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Party Politics and Free Speech in Democratic Athens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2009

Extract

One of the privileges which the Athenians prized very highly was parrhesia—the right of free speech. From the foundation of the democracy until the dangers of uncensored speech in the Pelopon-nesian War made some restraint advisable this privilege remained unimpaired, and it is an important part of their political, if not of their social, system. The recognition of this right of free speech should mean that no grievance need remain unspoken, and that politicians could be well informed about the state of public opinion.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1937

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