The Philosophy Behind the Democracy

Dr. Bill Smith, ARRA Editor: I have obviously missed the boat in sharing certain ideals and beliefs with our readers. Although my final degree is in philosophy, I have not taken time to set forth in simple clear vignettes the philosophical beliefs or thoughts of great minds upon which our government was founded. Today, I begin to make amends but not in my words but in a summary of concepts by former great philosophers which have been set forth clearly by another - Publius. At Write Idea. Publius details The Philosophy Behind the Democracy we Know Today:

The American tradition is rich and vibrant. This is a short examination of the beliefs of some of the more popular philosophers.

Aristotle’s Three Forms of Government
The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) stated that "The true forms of government…are those in which the one, or the few, or the many govern, with a view to the common interest:

1. A Monarchy. That is, a government a government run by one person.
2. An Aristocracy. Government by the few.
3. A Polity. We now call this a Constitutional Democracy.

However, to these three forms of good government, three forms of bad government correspond:

1. A Tyranny. That is, a monarchy ruled by an antagonistic monarch.
2. An Oligarchy. That is, a rule by a few corrupt men.
3. A Democracy. That is, rule by the masses.

Of the three deviations, tyranny is the worst, and mob rule is the least evil.

Plato’s Condemnation of Democracy
Plato (428-327 BC) argued against democracy. His primary reasons are summarized as follows:

1. Democracy leads inevitably to “mob rule.” Those in power pander to “pleasure-seekers” whose chief goals are the fulfillment of their immediate desires.
2. Democracy leads to rule by the stupid, who while they may have fine rhetorical (speaking) skills; they have no true knowledge itself.
3. Democracy leads to disagreement and conflict, which leads to the weakening of governments and should usually be avoided.

What about America
America is a Polity, or a Constitutional Republic, not a democracy, as so many people believe. This is why in the pledge allegiance we pledge allegiance to the "republic."

Why Democracy?
Vox populi, vox Dei, “The voice of the people, is the voice of God.” As illustrated in the words of the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, all men intrinsically have a conscience. He proclaimed, “Conscience, conscience! Divine instinct, immortal and celestial voice.” Similarly, Seneca wrote, “God is near of you, with you, in you. A sacred spirit has its seat in us. It is the observer and keeper of our good deeds and our wrongdoings.” This is the idea of conscience: it is divine.

In Western governments, law arises from the will of “the people.” The people know what to do because they listen to their conscience. Thus, the law is based, or should be based, on the conscience of the people. To put it simply:

• Men have consciences
• Men elect people who represent their conscience
• Elected officials rule according to their conscience

Conclusion
This is simply the tip of the iceberg. Read Aristotle, Plato, Cicero, and Hobbs. Government is an important institution. It can be used for good...or for evil.... [If you liked this summary, drop by Write Idea and leave Publius a comment.]

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