more on this theme
|
more from this thinker
Single Idea 22576
[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
]
Full Idea
It is democratic to have no office be permanent.
Gist of Idea
No office is permanent in a democracy
Source
Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1317b42)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.146
A Reaction
Modern exceptions seem to be judges and civil servants.
The
115 ideas
from 'Politics'
2431
|
Every state is an association formed for some good purpose
[Aristotle]
|
22521
|
Our method of inquiry is to examine the smallest parts that make up the whole
[Aristotle]
|
22522
|
To grasp something, trace it back to its natural origins
[Aristotle]
|
2801
|
Intelligence which looks ahead is a natural master, while bodily strength is a natural slave
[Aristotle]
|
2800
|
The best instruments have one purpose, not many
[Aristotle]
|
2802
|
Men imagine gods to be of human shape, with a human lifestyle
[Aristotle]
|
22523
|
The community (of villages) becomes a city when it is totally self-sufficient
[Aristotle]
|
22524
|
The nature of each thing is its mature state
[Aristotle]
|
2803
|
Man is by nature a political animal
[Aristotle]
|
1570
|
Human beings, alone of the animals, have logos
[Aristotle]
|
1574
|
Reasoning distinguishes what is beneficial, and hence what is right
[Aristotle]
|
2805
|
A community must share a common view of good and justice
[Aristotle]
|
22525
|
The whole is prior to its parts, because parts are defined by their role
[Aristotle]
|
22526
|
People who are anti-social or wholly self-sufficient are no part of a city
[Aristotle]
|
2806
|
Man is the worst of all animals when divorced from law and justice
[Aristotle]
|
22527
|
Justice is the order in a political community
[Aristotle]
|
2807
|
Some say slavery is unnatural and created by convention, and is therefore forced, and unjust
[Aristotle]
|
21358
|
Natural slaves are those naturally belonging to another, or who can manage no more than labouring
[Aristotle]
|
22528
|
The nature of all animate things is to have one part which rules it
[Aristotle]
|
2808
|
Master and slave can have friendship through common interests
[Aristotle]
|
2809
|
If nature makes everything for a purpose, then plants and animals must have been made for man
[Aristotle]
|
22529
|
Men are natural leaders (apart from the unnatural ones)
[Aristotle]
|
22530
|
Both women and children should be educated, as this contributes to a city's excellence
[Aristotle]
|
22531
|
We aim to understand the best possible community for free people
[Aristotle]
|
22532
|
A city can't become entirely one, because its very nature is to be a multitude
[Aristotle]
|
22533
|
If the people are equal in nature, then they should all share in ruling
[Aristotle]
|
22534
|
People care less about what is communal, and more about what is their own
[Aristotle]
|
22535
|
Friendship is the best good for cities, because it reduces factions
[Aristotle]
|
22536
|
There could be private land and public crops, or public land and private crops, or both public
[Aristotle]
|
22537
|
Property should be owned privately, but used communally
[Aristotle]
|
2810
|
Selfishness is wrong not because it is self-love, but because it is excessive
[Aristotle]
|
22538
|
Owning and sharing property communally increases disagreements
[Aristotle]
|
2811
|
A state is plural, and needs education to make it a community
[Aristotle]
|
2813
|
It is quite possible to live a moderate life and yet be miserable
[Aristotle]
|
22539
|
Election of officials by the elected is dangerous, because factions can control it
[Aristotle]
|
2814
|
Phaleas proposed equality of property, provided there is equality of education
[Aristotle]
|
22540
|
Wealth could be quickly leveled by only the rich giving marriage dowries
[Aristotle]
|
2816
|
If it is easy to change the laws, that makes them weaker
[Aristotle]
|
2817
|
It is wrong that a worthy officer of state should seek the office
[Aristotle]
|
22541
|
Kings should be selected according to character
[Aristotle]
|
22542
|
People who buy public office will probably expect to profit from it
[Aristotle]
|
22543
|
In large communities it is better if more people participate in the offices
[Aristotle]
|
22544
|
A citizen is someone who is allowed to hold official posts in a city
[Aristotle]
|
2818
|
The virtues of a good citizen are relative to a particular constitution
[Aristotle]
|
22545
|
A person can be an excellent citizen without being an excellent man
[Aristotle]
|
2819
|
The only virtue special to a ruler is practical wisdom
[Aristotle]
|
2820
|
People want to live together, even when they don't want mutual help
[Aristotle]
|
22546
|
A city is a community of free people, and the constitution should aim at the common advantage
[Aristotle]
|
2821
|
The six constitutions are monarchy/tyranny, aristocracy/oligarchy, and polity/democracy
[Aristotle]
|
22547
|
Justice is equality for equals, and inequality for unequals
[Aristotle]
|
22548
|
A city aims at living well
[Aristotle]
|
2823
|
The many may add up to something good, even if they are inferior as individuals
[Aristotle]
|
2824
|
The collective judgement of many people on art is better than that of an individual
[Aristotle]
|
22549
|
In many cases, the claim that the majority is superior would apply equally to wild beasts
[Aristotle]
|
22550
|
It is dreadful to neither give a share nor receive a share
[Aristotle]
|
22551
|
Correct law should be in control, with rulers only deciding uncertain issues
[Aristotle]
|
2825
|
The good is obviously justice, which benefits the whole community, and involves equality in some sense
[Aristotle]
|
22552
|
The rich can claim to rule, because of land ownership, and being more trustworthy
[Aristotle]
|
22553
|
Justice is a virtue of communities
[Aristotle]
|
22554
|
It is said that we should not stick strictly to written law, as it is too vague
[Aristotle]
|
2826
|
Like water, large numbers of people are harder to corrupt than a few
[Aristotle]
|
22555
|
The function of good men is to confer benefits
[Aristotle]
|
2827
|
It is preferable that law should rule rather than any single citizen
[Aristotle]
|
2828
|
Law is intelligence without appetite
[Aristotle]
|
2829
|
The law is the mean
[Aristotle]
|
22556
|
Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules
[Aristotle]
|
22557
|
Virtuous people are like the citizens of the best city
[Aristotle]
|
22558
|
Constitutions specify distribution of offices, the authorities, and the community's aim
[Aristotle]
|
22560
|
Popular leaders only arise in democracies that are not in accord with the law
[Aristotle]
|
22561
|
The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes
[Aristotle]
|
2830
|
We can claim an equal right to aristocratic virtue, as well as to wealth or freedom
[Aristotle]
|
22562
|
Choosing officials by lot is democratic
[Aristotle]
|
22563
|
The middle classes are neither ambitious nor anarchic, which is good
[Aristotle]
|
22564
|
Community is based on friends, who are equal and similar, and share things
[Aristotle]
|
2832
|
The state aims to consist as far as possible of those who are like and equal
[Aristotle]
|
22565
|
The best communities rely on a large and strong middle class
[Aristotle]
|
22566
|
The greed of the rich is more destructive than the greed of the people
[Aristotle]
|
22567
|
Democracy arises when people who are given equal freedom assume unconditional equality
[Aristotle]
|
22568
|
Faction is for inferiors to be equal, and equals to become superior
[Aristotle]
|
22569
|
The Heraeans replaced election with lot, to thwart campaigning
[Aristotle]
|
22570
|
Rhetoric now enables good speakers to become popular leaders
[Aristotle]
|
22571
|
'If each is small, so too are all' is in one way false, for the whole composed of all is not small
[Aristotle]
|
2833
|
Equality is obviously there to help people who do not get priority in the constitution
[Aristotle]
|
22572
|
Officers should like the constitution, be capable, and have appropriate virtues and justice
[Aristotle]
|
22573
|
The virtue of justice may be relative to a particular constitution
[Aristotle]
|
22574
|
A community can lack self-control
[Aristotle]
|
22575
|
Ultimate democracy is tyranny
[Aristotle]
|
20092
|
One principle of liberty is to take turns ruling and being ruled
[Aristotle]
|
22576
|
No office is permanent in a democracy
[Aristotle]
|
2834
|
It is always the weak who want justice and equality, not the strong
[Aristotle]
|
2835
|
Any constitution can be made to last for a day or two
[Aristotle]
|
2973
|
We must decide the most desirable human life before designing a constitution
[Aristotle]
|
22577
|
What is the best life for everyone, and is that a communal or an individual problem?
[Aristotle]
|
2836
|
God is not blessed and happy because of external goods, but because of his own nature
[Aristotle]
|
22578
|
The happiest city is the one that acts most nobly
[Aristotle]
|
22579
|
The same four cardinal virtues which apply to individuals also apply to a city
[Aristotle]
|
22580
|
The best constitution enables everyone to live the best life
[Aristotle]
|
2837
|
Nothing contrary to nature is beautiful
[Aristotle]
|
22581
|
The size of a city is decided by the maximum self-sufficient community that can be surveyed
[Aristotle]
|
22582
|
Spirit [thumos] is the capacity by which we love
[Aristotle]
|
22583
|
The guardians should not be harsh to strangers, as no one should behave like that
[Aristotle]
|
22584
|
A community should all share to some extent in something like land or food
[Aristotle]
|
22585
|
Look at all of the citizens before judging a city to be happy
[Aristotle]
|
2840
|
The whole state should pay for the worship of the gods
[Aristotle]
|
2841
|
People become good because of nature, habit and reason
[Aristotle]
|
22586
|
Only humans have reason
[Aristotle]
|
2842
|
Men learn partly by habit, and partly by listening
[Aristotle]
|
22587
|
Understanding is the aim of our nature
[Aristotle]
|
2844
|
Abortions should be procured before the embryo has acquired life and sensation
[Aristotle]
|
22588
|
A city has a single end, so education must focus on that, and be communal, not private
[Aristotle]
|
22589
|
Citizens do not just own themselves, but are also parts of the city
[Aristotle]
|
2845
|
Free and great-souled men do not keep asking "what is the use of it?"
[Aristotle]
|
2846
|
Music can mould the character to be virtuous (just as gymnastics trains the body)
[Aristotle]
|
2847
|
The aim of serious childhood play is the amusement of the complete adult
[Aristotle]
|
22590
|
Virtue is concerned with correct feelings
[Aristotle]
|