Single Idea 22559

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy]

Full Idea

Plato judged that when the constitution is decent, democracy is the worst of them, but when they are bad it is the best.

Gist of Idea

Democracy is the worst of good constitutions, but the best of bad constitutions

Source

report of Plato (The Statesman [c.356 BCE], 302e) by Aristotle - Politics 1289b07

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.85


A Reaction

Aristotle denies that a good oligarchy is superior. What of technocracy? The challenge is to set up institutions which ensure the health of the democracy. The big modern problem is populists who lie.