Aristotle's Classification of Constitutions

 Aristotle involved empirical method (based on observation by five senses - sight, sound, smell, test and touch, and not speculation) of studying politics and combined it with the comparative method. He sent his disciples to different places of the world for making case histories of constitutions thereof. Accordingly, they prepared 158 cases histories. Aristotle himself observed them and concluded with the following forms of constitutions:- 

 Cycle of change of governments -

Aristotle holds that no form of government is in the purest form and stable. They keep changing overtime for following reasons:-

Monarchy is good in normal circumstances. But when the absolute power of a monarch grows enormously and goes beyond limits it takes up the form of tyranny because power and virtue cannot go together. But tyranny is soon overthrown by elected few, and aristocracy is set up.  In the absence of any effective curbs on their power, aristocracy degenerated into oligarchy. Soon, a large numbers rise against it and replaced it by polity. This again is degenerated into democracy, the rule of the large numbers seeking self interest.

 

What are causes of this revolution ? 

Aristotle accounts the following for the revolution that makes instability:- 

1) Dissatisfaction:- 

When people feel that they are deprived of power and prestige that they deserve, dissatisfaction or a sense of injustice grows among them. This dissatisfaction may be widespread or limited to a small group. This leads them to become seditious and they rebel against the ruling power. 

2) Economic inequality in the society:- 

Faster the division of society into the rich and the poor, greater the chances of revolution. The poor would not tolerate the luxurious ways of living of the rich.  

What is remedy to revolution ?

1) Preventing dissatisfaction 

1. Constitution should be founded on consent of all the citizens and enforced impartially to prevent the growth of 'sense of injustice'.  
2. In case the constitution is founded on the basis of the majority, minorities should not be cheated.
3. No individual power should be allowed to become too powerful. 
4. Political office should not be allowed to become of source of personal gain.    

2) Universal education

1. People should be educated as per the spirits of constitution.
2. People should be educated in such a way that they are ready to make their property available for the common use. 
3. Younger generations should be taught to have respect for law and abide by the law.

3) Doctrine of The Golden Mean

Aristotle proposes in his 'ethics' that 'the golden mean' approach should be adopted, meaning - all extremes should be avoided and middle path should be adopted between mutually opposite properties. Thus, a middle course between aristocracy and democracy will prevent the feeling of injustice among the rich and the poor.  Thus, Aristotle was the exponent of the 'mixed constitution'.

 

Different ideologies of Aristotle and Karl Marks on the theory of Revolution

 

 Aristotle on 'democracy'

Aristotle has following viewpoints about democracy:-

1. The rule of the many - particularly the poor and ordinary ones.
2. Perverted form of government - because the mediocre people seek to serve their selfish interest rather than the interest of the state.
3. Advantages/merits of democracy - 
• larger number (of people) are better judges than fewer. 
• the many are more incorruptible than the few; they are like greater quantity of water which is less easily polluted than a little.
• the larger number are less likely to be swayed by anger or passion, hence, their judgement is likely to prove more sound than that of one or the few.

     4. Demerits of democracy -

• based on false assumption of equality.
• those who are equal in one respect (law) cannot be equal in all respect. 
• ability is sacrificed to numbers.
• numbers are manipulated by trickery as they can easily be mislead by the intelligent.
  

 Therefore, Aristotle proposes for a judicious mixture of aristocracy and democracy.

 

   

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