POLITICS 212(TH)
HISTORY OF

WESTERN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY

 

 

Prof. Sammy Basu

 

PLATOÕs approach IN THE REPUBLIC

to political regime types (43, 103, 148, 174).  What is the ÔIDEALÕ state?

 

 

One

Few

Many

 

High

Monarchy

(ideal ORIGIN)

(148, 174, 191, 212)

 

 

 

JUST- Public

good

 

Aristocracy
(IDEAL)

(88-9, 102-3, 164, 176, 213)

 

 

0

 

 

 

UNJUST

 

TIMOCRACY

(HONOR-ORIENTED & WAR-MAKING) (217-19)

 

 

 

Oligarchy
(WEALTH-ORIENTED& unstable)

(222-227)

 

 

Particular

interest

 

 

Democracy
(VERY BAD & PRONE TO DEMAGOGUERY)

(227-240, 257)

 

HIGH

Tyranny

(worst of BAD)

(241-50, 259, CF.20)

 

 

 

AristotleÕs approach IN THE POLITICS

to What is the ÔbestÕ state? (81, 101-4)

and political regime types (75-9, 103).

 

 

One

Few

Many

 

High

Monarchy

(ideal?)

(91, 95-96, 197, 214-5)

 

 

Public

good

 

Aristocracy
(ideal? best poss)

(71, 74, 77, 95, 100, 114, 197, 199, 214-15, 118-9)

 

 

 

just

 

 

Constitutional
polity
(best likely, MIX OlIG & Democ, MIDDLE CLASS)

(96, 114-121)

0

 

 

 

unjust

 

 

Democracy
(best of BAD)

(110, 120, 136, 157, 177)

Particular

interest

 

Oligarchy
(unstable)

(111-2,134, 171)

 

HIGH

Tyranny

(worst of BAD yet still better than nothing)

(78, 118, 152-8, 166-71)

 

 

 

Historically speaking– AS A STATE GETs LARGER, THE POLITICAL regime tendS to shift from monarchy to oligarchy then tyranny then towards RULE BY THE MANY AND HENCE DEMOCRACY or optimally, constitutional polity (95).