more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 19829
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / d. Elites
]
Full Idea
There are three sorts of aristocracy: natural, elective, and hereditary. The first is suited only to simple people; the third is the worst of any government. The second is the best; it is aristocracy properly so-called.
Gist of Idea
Natural aristocracy is primitive, and hereditary is dreadful, but elective aristocracy is best
Source
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (The Social Contract (tr Cress) [1762], III.05)
Book Ref
Rousseau,Jean-Jacques: 'The Basic Political Writings', ed/tr. Cress,Donald A. [Hackett 1987], p.181
A Reaction
This seems like the modern idea of 'meritocracy'. The Chinese civil service exams, introduced into Europe in the nineteenth century.
The
23 ideas
with the same theme
[rule of a small group, by talent, birth or wealth]:
7361
|
Men of the highest calibre avoid political life completely
[Kongzi (Confucius)]
|
2132
|
Only rule by philosophers of integrity can keep a community healthy
[Plato]
|
2149
|
Reluctant rulers make a better and more unified administration
[Plato]
|
22542
|
People who buy public office will probably expect to profit from it
[Aristotle]
|
2819
|
The only virtue special to a ruler is practical wisdom
[Aristotle]
|
22552
|
The rich can claim to rule, because of land ownership, and being more trustworthy
[Aristotle]
|
22583
|
The guardians should not be harsh to strangers, as no one should behave like that
[Aristotle]
|
19970
|
If the nobility is numerous, the senate is the artistocracy, and the nobles are a democracy
[Montesquieu]
|
19971
|
Aristocracy is democratic if they resemble the people, but not if they resemble the monarch
[Montesquieu]
|
19984
|
Great inequality between aristocrats and the rest is bad - and also among aristocrats themselves
[Montesquieu]
|
21092
|
Nobility either share in the power of the whole, or they compose the power of the whole
[Hume]
|
19829
|
Natural aristocracy is primitive, and hereditary is dreadful, but elective aristocracy is best
[Rousseau]
|
7249
|
Natural aristocracy is primitive, hereditary is bad, and elective aristocracy is the best
[Rousseau]
|
19830
|
Large states need a nobility to fill the gap between a single prince and the people
[Rousseau]
|
21086
|
Hereditary nobility has not been earned, and probably won't be earned
[Kant]
|
22669
|
Aristocracy is constituted by inherited landed property
[Tocqueville]
|
20139
|
Only aristocratic societies can elevate the human species
[Nietzsche]
|
20373
|
A healthy aristocracy has no qualms about using multitudes of men as instruments
[Nietzsche]
|
23200
|
The controlling morality of aristocracy is the desire to resemble their ancestors
[Nietzsche]
|
20089
|
Technocrats may be efficient, but they lose legitimacy as soon as they do unpopular things
[Reybrouck]
|
20088
|
Technocrats are expert managers, who replace politicians, and can be long-term and unpopular
[Reybrouck]
|
20597
|
If winning elections depends on wealth, we have plutocracy instead of democracy
[Tuckness/Wolf]
|
12405
|
'If you're aristocratic,' said Nietzsche...
[Sommers,W]
|