BOOK 6 Chapter 4 The Other Varieties of Democracies

Chapter 4

I. Introduction to the Best Form of Democracy (1318b)

Aristotle begins by identifying four types of democracy, focusing on the best form, which he describes as the first and oldest. This form is ideal for societies where the populace is composed of farmers and herders.

1. The Best Democracy:
   • The most favorable form of democracy is one that can arise where the majority of people are engaged in farming or herding.
   • Farmers and herders make up the best citizens for this democracy because their occupations prevent them from seeking wealth or power in politics.
2. Qualities of a Farming Society:
   • Due to their lifestyle, farmers do not have the leisure time to hold frequent assemblies.
   • Since their focus is on work and sustenance, they are less likely to desire or pursue political power or wealth from office.
3. Contentment and Stability:
   • Farmers and herders are more inclined to be satisfied with basic governance, as long as they are allowed to work and retain their property.
   • As a result, they are willing to endure regimes like ancient tyrannies or oligarchies if those regimes do not interfere with their work or wealth accumulation.

II. Electing and Governing in the Best Democracy (1319a)

The best form of democracy ensures that governance is conducted by the most capable individuals, while the populace maintains some degree of oversight.

1. Election and Auditing:
   • Citizens, while perhaps not holding office themselves, participate in the election process and auditing of officials.
   • This limited participation satisfies the people's desire for political involvement without giving them full control over governance.
2. Division of Power:
   • The best individuals, based on assessments or qualifications, are chosen to hold office, ensuring that governance is conducted by capable and respectable citizens.
   • Those who rule are prevented from becoming corrupt because they are accountable to the people, who retain auditing powers.
3. Restraint and Moderation:
   • The best democracy ensures that even those in power are constrained by the law, preventing them from acting on personal whims.
   • This restraint benefits the whole system by protecting against the potential flaws of human nature.

III. Institutional Laws Supporting the Best Democracy (1319a)

Aristotle emphasizes the importance of property laws that maintain a stable and balanced society of farmers and herders.

1. Legislation on Land Ownership:
   • Laws that restrict land ownership to certain limits help maintain a balanced distribution of wealth, ensuring that the majority of citizens remain engaged in farming.
   • Ancient laws prohibited the sale or borrowing against land allotments, ensuring that citizens retained enough land to meet the requirements for citizenship.
2. Examples of Useful Legislation:
   • Aristotle points to laws from ancient societies, such as those of Oxylus and the Aphytaeans, which maintained land division and protected the farming class.
   • These laws ensured that even the poorest citizens had enough resources to participate in political life and citizenship.

IV. Other Forms of Democracy Based on Different Classes (1319b)

Aristotle contrasts the ideal farming-based democracy with other forms of democracy based on different social classes.

1. Herdsmen as Citizens:
   • Herdsmen, like farmers, are also well-suited to democracy because of their physical fitness and self-sufficiency.
   • Their lifestyle prepares them for military service, making them valuable citizens in a democratic regime.
2. Inferior Classes in Other Democracies:
   • In contrast, democracies that rely on merchants, workers, and laborers are less ideal because these citizens are primarily focused on profit.
   • Their frequent presence in the marketplace allows them to participate more actively in assemblies, but their interests are less aligned with the common good.

V. Practical Considerations for Establishing a Decent Democracy (1319b)

Aristotle discusses practical methods for establishing a democracy that functions well despite the different elements in society.

1. Geographical Considerations:
   • In areas where the countryside is far from the city, it is easier to create a balanced democracy, as the rural population is less likely to dominate assemblies.
   • Assemblies should include the rural populace, as their absence can lead to an unbalanced and less effective democracy.
2. Progressive Deviation in Democracies:
   • Democracies gradually deviate from the ideal as more inferior classes are granted citizenship.
   • The final and most degenerate form of democracy occurs when all citizens, regardless of merit, are allowed to participate, leading to instability.

VI. Dangers of Over-Extending Citizenship and Popular Rule (1319b)

Aristotle warns of the dangers associated with excessive inclusion of citizens and the resulting instability in a democracy.

1. Unrestrained Inclusion:
   • Popular leaders often extend citizenship too far, including not just legitimate citizens but also bastards and those with only partial citizenship qualifications.
   • This strategy strengthens the lower classes but creates tension with the notable and middling citizens.
2. Instability from Excessive Numbers:
   • When the lower classes become too numerous, they disrupt the balance of the regime, causing dissatisfaction among the notables and ultimately leading to factional conflict.

VII. Tyrannical Elements in Popular Rule (1320a)

Aristotle concludes by discussing the tyrannical tendencies that can emerge in a democracy if certain elements are allowed to dominate.

1. Lack of Control Over Certain Groups:
   • Democracies that fail to impose proper control over slaves, women, and children often degenerate into disorderly rule.
   • The permissive nature of such regimes, where citizens are allowed to live without restraint, undermines the stability of the democracy.
2. Disorder and Moderation:
   • Allowing citizens to live without moderation appeals to the majority, but it ultimately weakens the regime, leading to chaos and instability.

Types of Multitudes and Their Influence on Democracy

VIII. Introduction to the Multitudes in Relation to Democracy (1305a-b)

In Chapter 4 of Book 5 (Politics), Aristotle explains how different types of multitudes shape the different kinds of democratic regimes. He argues that democracy is fundamentally shaped by the characteristics of the people who make up the society. Understanding the variety of multitudes allows for a deeper comprehension of how different democracies emerge and function.

1. Multitudes as a Defining Element in Democracies:
   • Aristotle begins by asserting that every form of democracy is determined by the specific characteristics of the multitude that constitutes it.
   • He emphasizes that the different types of citizens shape the character and operation of democratic regimes, leading to variations in how power is distributed and exercised.
2. The Role of the Majority:
   • Democracies are essentially about the majority governing, but the quality and nature of this majority determine the type of democracy that will emerge.
   • The moral, economic, and social characteristics of the multitude influence the way democracy operates, affecting both the stability and justice of the regime.

IX. Types of Multitudes and Their Qualities (1305b-1306a)

Aristotle categorizes the multitude into several groups based on their way of life, economic status, and engagement with public life. He outlines how these groups give rise to different forms of democracy.

1. Farming and Agricultural Multitude:
   • Qualities:
     • Farmers are the most ideal citizens for a stable democracy.
     • They are hardworking, self-sufficient, and not driven by the pursuit of wealth or political power.
     • Their lack of leisure prevents them from constant political engagement, making them content with minimal participation.
   • Impact on Democracy:
     • A democracy based on a farming multitude is moderate and stable because farmers do not seek to exploit political offices for personal gain.
     • They are less likely to challenge the political order as long as they are free to work and retain their land.
     • This type of democracy is characterized by respect for the law and limited ambition for office.
2. Herding and Pastoral Multitude:
   • Qualities:
     • Herdsmen share many traits with farmers, such as self-sufficiency and a connection to the land.
     • They are also physically hardy, living outdoors and accustomed to physical exertion.
     • They engage in minimal political activity, as their lifestyle is focused on the maintenance of livestock.
   • Impact on Democracy:
     • Similar to farmers, herders contribute to a stable and moderate democracy.
     • Their focus on work and their military readiness provide stability and security to the regime.
     • However, their participation in governance is limited, and they prefer minimal political involvement.
3. Craftsmen, Artisans, and Merchants:
   • Qualities:
     • These citizens are engaged in commerce, craftsmanship, or trading, and their lives revolve around economic gain rather than political participation.
     • They frequent marketplaces and urban areas, making them more accessible for political involvement.
     • Their pursuit of profit often outweighs considerations of the common good.
   • Impact on Democracy:
     • A democracy composed primarily of craftsmen and merchants tends to be more focused on economic interests rather than civic virtue.
     • These citizens are likely to attend assemblies and participate actively in politics because their work is centered in the city.
     • However, the focus on profit can lead to a democracy that is less concerned with justice and more prone to corruption and instability.
4. Laborers and the Poor:
   • Qualities:
     • Laborers are those who rely on manual work for their livelihood, often struggling to meet basic needs.
     • They are typically less educated and more concerned with immediate survival than long-term political considerations.
     • Their lack of wealth and property makes them more likely to seek political power as a means of improving their economic status.
   • Impact on Democracy:
     • Democracies dominated by laborers and the poor tend to be the most unstable because these citizens often seek redistribution of wealth through political means.
     • The focus on material gain and the frequent need for assemblies can lead to a more volatile and less moderate form of democracy.
     • Laborers are often easily swayed by demagogues who promise economic benefits, leading to populist and sometimes tyrannical rule.

X. How Multitudes Influence Democratic Institutions (1306a-b)

Aristotle discusses how the specific composition of the multitude influences the structure of democratic institutions, such as assemblies, elections, and offices.

1. Assemblies and Participation:
   • Democracies where the majority consists of farmers or herders tend to have infrequent assemblies, as these citizens are more focused on their work and less interested in politics.
   • In contrast, democracies made up of urban craftsmen and merchants often have frequent assemblies because these citizens are more available to participate and have economic interests tied to political decisions.
2. Elections and Offices:
   • In a democracy where the multitude is composed of farmers, elections may be less frequent, and offices may be limited to individuals who are deemed capable based on merit or assessments.
   • Democracies dominated by laborers and the poor, however, tend to have more frequent elections and broader participation in office-holding, often leading to less capable individuals being placed in positions of power.
3. Justice and Law:
   • The rule of law is more respected in democracies where the multitude is composed of farmers and herders, as these citizens prioritize stability and order.
   • In democracies with a large number of laborers or the poor, the rule of law may be more vulnerable to challenges, as these citizens may push for legal changes that benefit their economic position, potentially leading to injustice and disorder.

XI. The Gradation of Democracies (1306b-1307a)

Aristotle outlines how democracies deviate from the ideal form based on the type of multitude that dominates.

1. Best Form of Democracy:
   • The best form of democracy arises when the multitude consists of farmers and herders, as they are moderate, self-sufficient, and not prone to excessive political ambition.
   • This democracy is stable, moderate, and respectful of the rule of law, with governance resting in the hands of the most capable individuals.
2. Deviations from the Ideal:
   • As the quality of the multitude declines, so too does the quality of the democracy. Democracies dominated by craftsmen, merchants, and laborers are progressively less stable.
   • The focus on economic gain and frequent political participation leads to more factionalism, corruption, and instability in these forms of democracy.
3. The Worst Form of Democracy:
   • The final and most degenerate form of democracy occurs when all citizens, regardless of merit, are allowed to participate equally.
   • In this form, the pursuit of personal gain dominates political life, and the regime becomes prone to demagoguery, instability, and disorder.

XII. Conclusion: Balancing the Multitudes for a Stable Democracy (1307a)

Aristotle concludes by emphasizing the need for a balanced and moderate multitude to create a stable and just democracy.

1. Moderation as Key to Stability:
   • A well-functioning democracy requires a balance between different classes, with the majority being composed of moderate citizens such as farmers and herders.
   • Extreme forms of democracy, where the poor or laborers dominate, lead to instability and injustice.
2. Practical Recommendations for Legislators:
   • Legislators should aim to maintain a balance of power between different groups in society, ensuring that no one class dominates completely.
   • By regulating participation and ensuring that capable individuals hold office, a democracy can remain stable and just, even if it includes a diverse multitude.

Summary of Key Points

1. Multitude as the Basis of Democracy: The type of citizens in a democracy determines its form and quality.
2. Best Citizens for Democracy: Farmers and herders make up the best citizens for a moderate and stable democracy, while laborers and the poor lead to less stable forms.
3. Influence on Institutions: The composition of the multitude affects how frequently assemblies are held, who is elected to office, and how the rule of law is respected.
4. Deviations from the Ideal: As the quality of the multitude declines, so does the quality of the democracy, with the worst form being one where all citizens, regardless of merit, participate equally.
5. Stability through Moderation: A balanced and moderate multitude ensures a stable democracy, and legislators should aim to maintain this balance through regulation and merit-based governance.

Aristotle's Chapter 4 in Politics Book 6 explores the conditions and characteristics that define the best form of democracy, particularly focusing on a farming or herding populace. The best democracy balances power between capable rulers and a content populace, while also ensuring that governance is restrained and moderate. Aristotle emphasizes the importance of proper legislation, limited participation in governance, and the dangers of over-extending citizenship.

This chapter provides Aristotle's framework for understanding how different social groups shape democratic regimes and emphasizes the importance of a moderate multitude for creating a stable, just democracy.

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