BOOK 4 Chapter 3 The Different Kinds of Regimes

Chapter 3

1. Introduction: The Basis for the Variety of Regimes

• Multiple Parts of the City:
  • Aristotle begins by explaining that the reason for the existence of multiple regimes is that every city is composed of different parts or classes of people.
  • These parts include households, which in turn are divided into rich, poor, and middling (middle class).
  • Among both the wealthy and the poor, there are further distinctions, such as the armed (those who can serve as soldiers) and the unarmed.
• Different Classes of Citizens:
  • The people are composed of several groups, including farmers, merchants, and laborers.
  • Among the notables (the wealthy class), there are further differences based on their level of wealth, the extent of their property, and activities such as horse breeding, which requires substantial resources.
  • For example, cities in ancient times that relied on horsepower in warfare often had oligarchies, such as the Eretrians, Chalcidians, and other cities in Asia.

2. Other Sources of Division Within the City

• Wealth, Family, and Virtue:
  • Aristotle notes that in addition to wealth, cities are divided by family lineage and virtue.
  • These divisions—wealth, family, virtue—form the necessary parts of the city. In his earlier discourse on aristocracy, Aristotle had distinguished these as crucial parts of any city.
• Participation in the Regime:
  • Not all parts of the city participate equally in the regime; some regimes involve all parts, while others involve only more or fewer.
  • The different participation levels lead to the formation of different types of regimes, depending on which groups hold power.

3. Definition of a Regime: Distribution of Power

• Regime as an Arrangement of Offices:
  • Aristotle defines a regime as the arrangement of offices within the city.
  • Regimes distribute offices based on either:
    • The power of those participating (i.e., the wealthy, the poor, or both), or
    • A form of equality shared among the participants (either among the poor, the wealthy, or both).
• Types of Regimes:
  • There are as many regimes as there are arrangements of power and preeminence within the various parts of the city.
  • This leads to the creation of different regimes based on the different roles of the city’s parts (e.g., the balance between the poor and the wealthy).

4. Common Simplified View: Two Main Regimes

• Two Common Regimes:
  • Most people conceive of regimes in terms of just two primary types:
    • Rule by the people (democracy),
    • Rule by the few (oligarchy).
  • Other regimes are seen as deviations from these two main types, similar to how winds are classified primarily as northern and southern, with other winds being considered deviations.
• Aristocracy and Democracy as Variations:
  • People commonly view aristocracy as a type of oligarchy because both involve rule by the few.
  • Similarly, a polity (a mixed regime) is often regarded as a form of democracy because it involves rule by the people.
  • This way of thinking parallels how winds or harmonies are categorized: for example, western winds are considered part of northern winds, and eastern winds are seen as southern.

5. Aristotle's More Nuanced Approach to Regimes

• Critique of the Simplified View:
  • Aristotle critiques this simplified view, arguing that it is more accurate to recognize multiple finely constituted regimes and to consider the other regimes as deviations.
  • Deviations include not only from the best regime (which is virtuous and well-ordered) but also from a well-blended harmony in the city’s structure.
• Oligarchic and Democratic Deviations:
  • He likens oligarchies to a taut harmony, which is rigid and resembles the rule of a master.
  • Democracies, on the other hand, are like a relaxed harmony, soft and indulgent, reflecting a more popular and less strict form of governance.

Key Themes and Concepts in Chapter 3:

1. Diversity of Regimes Based on the Composition of the City:
   • Aristotle argues that cities are composed of many different groups (rich, poor, farmers, merchants, laborers, notables, etc.), and these differences lead to a variety of regimes.
   • The different ways in which these parts of the city participate in governance lead to the formation of various types of regimes.
2. Distribution of Power as the Foundation of Regimes:
   • A regime is defined by how offices are distributed within the city, either based on the power of different groups (rich or poor) or a form of equality between them.
   • Different regimes arise depending on how power is distributed among the parts of the city.
3. Common but Flawed View of Two Primary Regimes:
   • Many people simplify the political landscape into just two regimes: democracy and oligarchy, viewing aristocracy as a form of oligarchy and polity as a type of democracy.
   • Aristotle critiques this view, noting that it misses the nuances and the different kinds of regimes.
4. Deviations from the Best Regime:
   • Aristotle believes that many regimes are deviations from the best regime, which is virtuous and harmonious.
   • He contrasts oligarchies (rigid, master-like rule) with democracies (relaxed, indulgent rule), suggesting that both are flawed forms of governance.
5. Analogies to Winds and Harmonies:
   • Aristotle uses the analogy of winds (northern vs. southern) and musical harmonies (Dorian vs. Phrygian) to explain how people tend to classify regimes in a simplified way, missing the finer distinctions.

This chapter emphasizes the complexity of regimes, arguing that cities’ different parts and their roles in governance lead to a diversity of political structures. Aristotle critiques the common view that regimes can be boiled down to just democracy and oligarchy, insisting instead on recognizing a variety of regimes, each arising from the specific circumstances of a city's composition.

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