{
  "id": 14200861,
  "title": "Today’s irreverent politics ignore ancient wisdom: The need to know your limits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/todays-irreverent-politics-ignore-ancient-wisdom-the-need-to-know",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T12:19:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation",
    "slug": "the-conversation",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/todays-irreverent-politics-ignore-ancient-wisdom-the-need-to-know-your-limits-288318"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A common grievance today revolves around the \"shamelessness\" exhibited by politicians. Historically, more elected officials possessed a sense of shame that deterred them from making ugly public statements or taking dishonorable actions. Today's politicians, however, appear to relish contempt for such old unwritten rules against profanity, slander, or lying, as well as rules against abusing power.\n\nThe issue at hand isn't merely about poor etiquette or outright corruption. It transcends to the realm of leadership. As a researcher specializing in political thought and the psychology of lawfulness, I have observed that an essential trait in effective leaders is their ability to set boundaries - to respect some higher principle they would be ashamed to violate. This principle becomes even more crucial for leaders in a constitutional republic governed by checks and balances.\n\nThe world has faced this issue before, even as the modern phenomenon of political shamelessness may appear novel. Ancient philosophers, such as Plato, warned of the perils of such behavior. Plato's \"Laws,\" penned over 2,400 years ago, delves into the concept of constitutional government, a topic he explored in his utopian \"city in speech.\"\n\nThe key to resolving this problem, according to Plato, is reverence - what he terms \"aidos,\" characterized by shame and awe. These emotions, when felt appropriately, serve as a backstop against making decisions based on personal gain rather than ethical principles. By revering wisdom, or God, as the ultimate source of truth, individuals can mitigate the temptation to act selfishly.\n\nWhile reverence might seem outdated in the context of contemporary politics, I argue that it remains relevant. Modern democracies may not directly use government to instill virtue, but they need citizens and leaders who recognize the limits of their own judgment and rely on higher principles to guide their decisions. Awe can stem from the immense responsibility of self-governance, reminding us of the awesome duty we bear as citizens.",
  "summary": "Many Americans have decried today’s politics as ‘shameless.’ The antidote, a political philosopher argues, may be more reverence – awe at just how difficult democracy is.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}