The Emergence of Democracy in Ancient Athens

The emergence of democracy in ancient Athens led to the rise of direct democracy, but it was limited to Athenian adult males, excluding women and foreigners from participation. The democratic process relied on the capacity for debate and argumentation, leading to the invention of rhetoric and the development of persuasive language skills. The sophists focused on teaching these skills without a moral commitment, prioritizing empowering individuals to win arguments rather than advocating for specific positions.