When thousands of citizens gathered on the streets of ancient Athens during the Peloponnesian War, they demanded the immediate execution of six victorious generals after the Battle of Arginusae. They understood naval warfare and military tactics. What they lacked was critical thinking, ethical reflection, and awareness of their own biases. Skilled speakers used their anger to influence the crowd, leading the assembly to carry out a wrongful execution that weakened Athenian democracy.
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