Listening to Aristotle's Politics while running the canal roads I'm struck, not for the first time, with how often his ideas are condensed, simplified, turned into sound bites that make him sound naive, if not simplistic. I've been guilty of doing the same myself. In the past I have been known to say that Aristotle divided political systems into two types,* oligarchy and democracy, and that, like Plato, he was critical of democracy. By the time I got to Fourth Book of Politics (only halfway through) I discovered that I was the one being simplistic.
What he actually writes is that most people think there are only two forms of government because these are the two forms they see the most often. He insists that "There are so many different kinds of democracies and of oligarchies" (VI). He then subdivides each into so many categories that I couldn't follow him while running. (It was 92 degrees; felt like 96 with the humidity figured in; I have an excuse.)
After mentioning that "an ideal state which is an aspiration only," he writes that governments must adjust to the situation, (a subtle dig at Plato?). Then he writes about a "polity or constitutional government" (IV) which he sees as the most effective government. This is a government that combines elements of an oligarchy and a democracy, trying, if incompletely so, to get the best of both. I won't go into details. This chapter is worth reading by anyone interested in politics. And, if Aristotle is right, we are political animals.
Just one factoid to illustrate how different our ideas of democracy are from those in 4th Century BC: According to Aristotle, oligarchies elect officials by vote; democracies elect officials by lot.
(Why? Election by lots keeps the rich from being able to buy elections. Are you listening Koch brothers?)
*He also dealt with dictatorship and monarchy, but felt those required less attention. An assessment I agree with.
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