THE ACCOUNTS OF THE VARITIES OF DEMOCRATIC REGIMES
IN POLITICS 4 & 6
THE FIRST ACCOUNT
POLITICS 4.4.1291b29-1292a37
1 1291b31-b38 “THE FIRST SORT 1 1292b26-35 “the farming element” 1318b7-1319a19
OF DEMOCRACY”
-Based on equality.
-Balance between rich and poor,
the poor are not preeminent over
the well-off, neither have authority.
-all share in the regime as far as
possible in a similar way.
-the people are the majority, and
what is resolved by the majority is
authoritative.
2 1291b39-1292a1 “another is the
kind”
-the offices are filled on the basis
of assessments.
-but assessments are low; open to
any who possessing the amount to
take part, while anyone losing it
does not take part.
3 1292a2-a3 “Another kind”
-all citizens of unquestioned
descent take part.
-but the law rules.
4 1292a3-a4 “another kind”
-all have a part in the offices
provided they are citizens.
-but the law rules
5 1293a4-a37 “Another kind”
-is the same in other respects
-but the multitude has authority
and not the law.
-Decrees rather than law become
authoritative.
-this happens on account of
demagogoi/popular leaders.
-such a people, being a sort of
monarch, seek to rule
monarchically on account of their
not being ruled by law, and
become like a master.
-flatters are held in honor
-this sort of rule by the people
bears comparison with tyranny
THE SECOND ACCOUNT THE ACCOUNT IN
POLITICS 4.6.1292b26-1293a10 POLITICS 6.4
-the farming element possessing a the best is the one that is
moderate amount have property first in the arrangement
have authority over the regime. spoken of in the discourses
-they govern themselves in preceding these; it is also
accordance with laws. the oldest of them all. But I
-have enough if they work, no call it first in the sense that
leisure. one might distinguish
-the put the law in charge and among peoples. The best
assemble only for necessary people is the farming sort,
assemblies. so that it is possible also to
-as for others, it is open to them to create the best democracy
take part as soon as they are in wherever the multitude lives
possession of the assessment defied from farming or herding.
by the laws.
-similar to a kind of oligarchy, in
that it is not open to all.
2 1292b25-38 “Another kind” 1319a20-a24 After the
-arises through the next sort of farming multitude, the best
distinction, sort of people exists where
-open to all of unquestioned descent they are herdsmen and live
with respect to family to take part in from livestock. These are in
the regime. a condition very similar to
-the law rules on account of there farmers, and in what relates
not being a revenue. to military activities..
3 1292b38-1293a1 “A third kind” 1319a24-a23 The other sorts
-open to all who are free persons. of multitude are .. almost all
-they also don’t have revenue for much meaner than these:
leisure. their way of life is a mean
-“so in this as well the law one.
necessarily rules.” --Merchants or Laborers
4 1293a1-a11 “A fourth kind of 1319b2-b33 The final sort,
democracy” on account of all partici-
-the “last to arise in cities“ on pating in it, is one that not
account of cities’ growing larger every city can support, nor
than they originally were and is it easy for it to last, as it is
having available abundant not well composed with
revenues, all take part in the regime respect to its laws and
on account of the pre-eminence of customs.
the multitude.” --Popular leaders/
-“the multitude of this sort is indeed demagogoi
particularly at leisure: the care of
their private affairs is in no way an
obstacle for them, while it is an
obstacle for the wealthy.”
-“Hence the multitude of the poor
comes to have authority over the
regime, and not the laws.”