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POLITICS AND EQUALITY IN GREEK
INVENTION OF DEMOCRACY [1]
Nuno M. M. S. Coelho
UNIVERSIDADE OF SÃO PAULO (USP) - BRAZIL
1. Introduction
13
AS THE TITLE ADVERTS, this text focuses on some central terms in political
discourse, trying to understand them from a genetic perspective. In
spite of this, neither its method nor its scope is historical, but philosophical
and political. From that we expect some help to understand
the contemporary political experience.
What do we mean for a genetic (Greek) sense of politics, equality
and democracy? What about their relationship? And how can this be
helpful for nowadays political experience?
Let’s start for present times. Maybe it helps us to think and problematize
the limits of political discussion and choice. People can selfimpose
boundaries and exclude issues from public deliberation. This
is a known topic to political sciences and to lawyers. Political selflimitation
can result from express techniques, as in case of rules of rigid
Constitutions, which prohibit Amendments on certain subjects. [2]
POLITICS AND EQUALITY
IN GREEK INVENTION
OF DEMOCRACY
Nuno M. M. S. Coelho
1
This text is dedicated to Professor José Luiz Quadros de Magalhães.
2
The Portuguese Constitution states, in its 288. Article: “As leis de revisão constitucional
terão de respeitar: a) A independência nacional e a unidade do Estado; b) A forma
republicana de governo; c) A separação das Igrejas do Estado; d) Os direitos, liberdades e
garantias dos cidadãos; e) Os direitos dos trabalhadores, das comissões de trabalhadores