Definition Of Democracy According To Aristotle

Please understand that aristotle in his discussion on the forms of government was differentiating several types of government based on the number of people empowered by the system and whether the system was correct good or deviant bad.

Definition of democracy according to aristotle. Democracies define freedom badly everyone lives as he wants and toward whatever end he happens to crave. They are more relevant in the age of trump than ever. Aristotle s philosophy of equality peace democracy matt qvortrup argues that aristotle s political philosophy is surprisingly modern. Democracy according to aristotle should always pursue the common interest and in this definition the common interest will always include the equal pursuit of virtue.

Wherever men rule by reason of their wealth whether they be few or many that is an oligarchy and where the poor rule that is a democracy. The real difference lies in the contrasting ideologies of the two constitutions. Aristotle s arguments for democracy are convincing in one respect. Aristotle one of the greatest philosophers of all time a teacher of world leader alexander the great and a prolific writer on a variety of subjects we might not think related to philosophy provides important information on ancient politics he distinguishes between good and bad forms of ruling in all the basic systems.

The son of a doctor aristotle was born in the city of stagira in macedonia in the year 384 bc and was educated at plato s academy. Aristotle s key objection to democracy was that it undermined the rule of law. For him the fact that the many have power in a democracy and th e few in an oligarchy is an incidental factor. A functioning state requires that everything is governed by laws.

It is basically a fairly modern democracy where social positions are open when power is self control where governance is followed. Aristotle here takes a firm position. Cannot be defined at all according to aristotle s terms or their definitions involve a contradiction. One reason a democracy does not achieve the telos of the city state and therefore cannot be a virtuous form of government is because a democracy is based in a bad definition of freedom according to aristotle.

Without this there is nothing to stop those who hold the most power. It is important to note that aristotle did not consider oligarchies and democracies as inherently bad. Thus there are good and bad forms of the rule by one mon archy a few. However his specific greek world view colors his position enough to warrant mitigated acceptance.

Aristotle s criticisms of democracy were often insightful and prescient.