Essay One

        My definition of arete is basically excellence, and being the best you can possibly be. The ancient Greeks demonstrated arete because in 508 b.c. democracy was introduced into the world for the first time ever. Introducing democracy changed government. It allowed the people to have a say on major decisions that affected them rather than having one person with all the power decide. Basically the people had the power and they ruled themselves.The Greeks used democracy on mostly everything they did. The voted on things as little as the price of goods and as big and important as war decisions.  This type of government worked so well that we still use it today in the United States. Socrates also demonstrated arete. He demonstrated arete because he always spoke his mind and didn't tell any other people how to think when they had questions for him. He would just help them find the answer by asking them question and begin big discussions among lots of people. Plus, Socrates was a large believer on democracy, and when he was sentenced the death penalty he could of gotten out if it. But since he was voted to die, he did. This shows that he did not change his beliefs even when facing death, and that demonstrates arete.