On Mar 11, 6:18 pm, t...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(Ted Nolan <tednolan>) wrote:
>
> Ancient historians had a similar concept of a repeating cycle of systems
> of government. I can't recall a cite, but I've seen it a couple of
places.
> There were three good types of government: Monarchy, Oligarchy and
Democracy,
> which each decayed into worse states: despotism, cliques and mob rule,
I recall something like this, but I cannot seem to find the source,
which I think was Russell's "History of Western Philosophy".
IIRC, the best government is supposed to be monarchy, next best
aristocracy, and last "polity" which we would call democracy.
However, monarchy decays to despotism, aristocracy to oligarchy and
polity to democracy (i.e. short terms of office, some offices decided
by lot and more direct representation). Among these decayed
governments, however, the order of merit is reversed. Democracy is
best, followed by oligarchy, followed by despotism.
In sum, democracy is the best stable government, though an enlightened
monarchy would be better, were it possible.
All very much IIRC - it's been decades since I read this.
William Hyde
|
