People have been voting for their rulers for thousands of years. It is thought likely that millennia ago, hunter-gatherersHumans who lived an ancient way of life in which they foraged for food and occasionally hunted, but did not farm. would decide things by popular vote.¹ The first recorded formal election took place in SpartaAnother of the great classical city-states, best known for its uncompromising martial culture. all the way back in 754 BC.²

So you would think after all that practice, we would be better at it. But it is only very recently that we have come to believe that everyone should be able to vote.

Women only began to vote on the same terms as men in the 19th Century, and most countries, including the USA and the UK, did not allow this until the 20th Century. French women have only been allowed to vote for 80 years.³ And around 70% of the world still has no right to vote at all.⁴

So perhaps it is little surprise people feel uncertain how they should vote. To make it easier, the Day has assembled four philosophers to explain how they would pick their parties this Thursday:

David HumeThe Scottish philosopher argued that all human knowledge is acquired through experience and therefore embracing the unknown is a fundamental part of being human. - Labour Hume believed in gradual, moderate reform of society. He was deeply opposed to any form of extremism. And he was suspicious of ideas in general: he thought we only come to know anything through careful empiricalThrough observation or experience, rather than just theory. study. He also died believing he had achieved very little.

Friedrich NietzscheA German classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture (1844 - 1900), who became one of the most influential of all modern thinkers. - Conservative Nietzsche was deeply pessimistic, just as many Conservatives are about the election. He believed society should be run by an aristocraticBelonging to the highest levels of society - the top of the upper classes. elite, so he would have opposed any tax on private schools. And he was frequently frustrated that he was not more popular.

Mary WollstonecraftA British writer who is often called the mother of feminism. In A Vindication of the Rights of Woman she argued for equal rights for both genders. - Liberal Democrat Wollstonecraft thought human beings should be as free as possible, so she would have backed Ed DaveyThe leader of the UK party the Liberal Democrats since 2019. 's plan to legalise cannabisA tall plant. When parts of it are smoked or eaten, it can have a mind-altering effect. . As a firm believer in an ethics of care for other human beings, she would have approved of the Lib Dems' promise to provide more funding for social care. And like the Lib Dems, she was often ignored.

SocratesConsidered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason. - Reform Like many of Reform's members, Socrates was "just asking questions". Rather than putting forward a programme of his own, he thought his role was to criticise others and hold them to account. He opposed any other country having a say in how his native Athens was run, but he admired authoritarianEnforcing strict obedience to authority. rulers and was sceptical of democratic structures.

But how does a philosopher choose which way they will vote?

Some would tell you to vote for the party whose policies would benefit you the most. Karl MarxA 19th-Century German economist and philosopher who argued that capitalism was doomed to collapse. thought society was made up of opposing classes which wanted the state to do different things. So you should vote for a party that will act in your interests.

Others would say it is no use voting for a politician who will not fulfil their promises, so the most important thing is pick a party you trust. Immanuel KantA German Enlightenment philosopher who is regarded as one of the most important thinkers of the modern era. He fundamentally changed the way we think about a variety of subjects, from aesthetics to cognition to morality. wrote it is always immoral to lie, even for political reasons.

Still others might tell you the important thing is values. Politicians lay out their plans before an election but these are often derailed by sudden crises and events, and you want to be sure they will respond to them in the right way.

Thinker Edmund BurkeIrish statesman, economist and philosopher. Often regarded as the founder of modern British conservatism. would advise you to vote for someone with a good "disposition": a way of thinking about the world that means they will act reliably and morally in the face of the unexpected.

Is there a right and wrong way to choose?

Yes: Voting is a serious duty. It would be irresponsible to decide how to vote based on something trivial. You should think carefully about who will do the right thing in government and run the country the best.

No: Your vote is your own. If you like a candidate because they have a trustworthy face or a reassuring voice, you can vote for them based on that. It is all up to you, the voter.

Or... In a democracy, the voter is sovereignWhen a nation is independent and self-governing. . That means no-one can tell you how to vote. But it also means you also have a duty to educate yourself about public affairs and use your vote wisely.

Hunter-gatherers - Humans who lived an ancient way of life in which they foraged for food and occasionally hunted, but did not farm.

Sparta - Another of the great classical city-states, best known for its uncompromising martial culture.

David Hume - The Scottish philosopher argued that all human knowledge is acquired through experience and therefore embracing the unknown is a fundamental part of being human.

Empirical - Through observation or experience, rather than just theory.

Friedrich Nietzsche - A German classical scholar, philosopher, and critic of culture (1844 - 1900), who became one of the most influential of all modern thinkers.

Aristocratic - Belonging to the highest levels of society - the top of the upper classes.

Mary Wollstonecraft - A British writer who is often called the mother of feminism. In A Vindication of the Rights of Woman she argued for equal rights for both genders.

Ed Davey - The leader of the UK party the Liberal Democrats since 2019.

Cannabis - A tall plant. When parts of it are smoked or eaten, it can have a mind-altering effect.

Socrates - Considered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason.

Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.

Karl Marx - A 19th-Century German economist and philosopher who argued that capitalism was doomed to collapse.

Immanuel Kant - A German Enlightenment philosopher who is regarded as one of the most important thinkers of the modern era. He fundamentally changed the way we think about a variety of subjects, from aesthetics to cognition to morality.

Edmund Burke - Irish statesman, economist and philosopher. Often regarded as the founder of modern British conservatism.

Sovereign - When a nation is independent and self-governing.