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Unlike modern democracies, the ancient democracy was a real democracy, because they understood politics much better than us: "It is accepted as democratic when
by amai 9y ago
Unlike modern democracies, the ancient democracy was a real democracy, because they understood politics much better than us:
"It is accepted as democratic when public offices are allocated by lot; and as oligarchic when they are filled by election. (Aristotle)"
See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortition
- woodruffw 9y agoThat quote is easy to misinterpret because of our modern (rightful!) bias towards democracy. Along with tyranny, Aristotle considered democracy and oligarchy the three bad forms of government. He wrote his Politics with both the Athenian tyrants and Socrates' death (at the hand of the democracy) in mind.
- will_brown 9y agoTypical you are downvoted for accuracy because it doesn't conform to populist belief. What most people don't know is Aristotle's teacher, Socrates, was a military leader/hero and firmly believed the best form of government would be an authoritarian council of philosophers. Similarly contrary to popular belief Niccolò Machiavelli - despite what people know about his work most famous work The Prince - firmly believed democracy was the best form of government. Obviously these truths run counterintuitive to what people think.
- wdr1 9y agoAristotle was taught by Plato, not Socrates. Socrates died when Aristotle was still relatively young. It was Plato who believed the ideal ruler would be a philosopher-king, but he also explicitly stated it was not a realistic option because the same philosopher-king could also be a tyrant.
- louithethrid 9y agoI actually found there voting mechanisms interesting. Especially when they would draw by luck the ruling members from the ballot.