Final answer:
Socrates criticizes democracy for its excessive freedom and lack of order, fearing it can lead to a government that does not foster self-improvement or adhere to higher standards of governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
At 557b, Socrates criticizes democracy for its lack of order and excess freedom. He is critical of this characteristic element of democracy because he believes it leads to a lack of self-criticism and self-improvement, as the general will tends to follow the majority rule without an absolute standard for measurement. Socrates's view was reflected in Plato's work, where democracy was seen as resting upon the 'cult of the average' where the majority, often seen as a mob, could determine everything through voting, potentially descending to the level of the least ambitious and least suited to rule.
Plato, who was Socrates's student, elaborates on these critiques in The Republic, arguing for the rule of philosopher-kings who possess knowledge about the true nature of the world. Aristotle also had reservations about democracy, as he thought it could result in the neglect of the common good in favor of the interests of the majority. However, despite their critiques, the ancient Greek experiment with democracy, as exemplified by reforms in the fifth century in Athens and the democratic system under Cleisthenes, laid the foundations for modern democratic thought and practice.