Why Democracies Fail – A Sip and Scholar Lecture Night
About this Event
Welcome to Sip and Scholar
Join us for engaging evenings where professors, experts, and storytellers bring their thought-provoking lectures to your favorite Toronto bars.
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📅 Date: July 7, 2026⏰ Time: 6:00 PM📍 Location: Bar near King and University🎙️ Lecture "Why Democracies Fail" 👨🏫 Speaker: Professor, Dr. Kevin Temple
Why Democracies Fail: According to Plato
Democracy is often seen as humanity's greatest political achievement. But one of history's most influential philosophers wasn't so sure.
More than 2,400 years ago, Plato argued that democracies contain the seeds of their own downfall. In his view, the very freedoms that make democracy attractive can, under the wrong conditions, lead to division, instability, and ultimately the rise of tyranny.
In this lecture, Dr. Kevin Temple, a professor at U of T, will explore Plato's famous critique of democracy and examines why these ancient arguments continue to provoke debate today. Drawing from Plato's classical texts, he'll unpack how Plato understood freedom, leadership, public opinion, and political decline—and why his warnings have remained relevant for centuries.
Whether you agree with Plato or not, his diagnosis of democracy's vulnerabilities raises uncomfortable questions about modern politics, civic life, and the future of democratic societies.
Themes: philosophy · democracy · Plato · politics · Ancient Greece
Agenda
🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:55 PM
Arrive, Mingle, Sip
🕑: 06:55 PM - 07:45 PM
Intros and lecture begins
🕑: 07:45 PM - 08:30 PM
Audience Q&A and open discussion
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 39.19
