<w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fas">δημοκρατίας</w>. <w lemma="o%28%2Fti">ὅτι</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqe%2Fs">ἀληθές</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="lego%2Fmenon">λεγόμενον</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="sumfane%2Fs">συμφανές</w>.
<w lemma="ou%29%2Fte">οὔτε</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="dh%2Fpou">δήπου</w> <w lemma="monarxi%2Fan">μοναρχίαν</w> <w lemma="eu%29qe%2Fws">εὐθέως</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fan">βασιλείαν</w> <w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="mo%2Fnhn">μόνην</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="e%29c">ἐξ</w> <w lemma="e%28ko%2Fntwn">ἑκόντων</w> <w lemma="sugxwroume%2Fnhn">συγχωρουμένην</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3D%7C">τῇ</w> <w lemma="gnw%2Fmh%7C">γνώμῃ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="plei%3Don">πλεῖον</w> <w lemma="h%29%5C">ἢ</w> <w lemma="fo%2Fbw%7C">φόβῳ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="bi%2Fa%7C">βίᾳ</w> <w lemma="kubernwme%2Fnhn:">κυβερνωμένην·</w>
<w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dsan">πᾶσαν</w> <w lemma="o%29ligarxi%2Fan">ὀλιγαρχίαν</w> <w lemma="a%29ristokrati%2Fan">ἀριστοκρατίαν</w> <w lemma="nomiste%2Fon">νομιστέον</w>, <w lemma="a%29lla%5C">ἀλλὰ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fthn">ταύτην</w>, <w lemma="h%28%2Ftis">ἥτις</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="kat%27">κατ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29klogh%5Cn">ἐκλογὴν</w> <w lemma="u%28po%5C">ὑπὸ</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="dikaiota%2Ftwn">δικαιοτάτων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fronimwta%2Ftwn">φρονιμωτάτων</w> <w lemma="a%29ndrw%3Dn">ἀνδρῶν</w> <w lemma="brabeu%2Fhtai">βραβεύηται</w>.
<w lemma="paraplhsi%2Fws">παραπλησίως</w> <w lemma="ou%29de%5C">οὐδὲ</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fan">δημοκρατίαν</w>, <w lemma="e%29n">ἐν</w> <w lemma="h%28%3D%7C">ᾗ</w> <w lemma="pa%3Dn">πᾶν</w> <w lemma="plh%3Dqos">πλῆθος</w> <w lemma="ku%2Frio%2Fn">κύριόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="poiei%3Dn">ποιεῖν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2F">ὅ</w>,
<w lemma="ti">τι</w> <w lemma="pot%27">ποτ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="au%29to%5C">αὐτὸ</w> <w lemma="boulhqh%3D%7C">βουληθῇ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pro%2Fqhtai">πρόθηται</w> <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="w%28%3D%7C">ᾧ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Ftrio%2Fn">πάτριόν</w> <w lemma="e%29sti">ἐστι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="su%2Fnhqes">σύνηθες</w> <w lemma="qeou%5Cs">θεοὺς</w> <w lemma="se%2Fbesqai">σέβεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="gonei%3Ds">γονεῖς</w> <w lemma="qerapeu%2Fein">θεραπεύειν</w>, <w lemma="presbute%2Frous">πρεσβυτέρους</w> <w lemma="ai%29dei%3Dsqai">αἰδεῖσθαι</w>, <w lemma="no%2Fmois">νόμοις</w> <w lemma="pei%2Fqesqai">πείθεσθαι</w>, <w lemma="para%5C">παρὰ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="toiou%2Ftois">τοιούτοις</w> <w lemma="susth%2Fmasin">συστήμασιν</w> <w lemma="o%28%2Ftan">ὅταν</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="toi%3Ds">τοῖς</w> <w lemma="plei%2Fosi">πλείοσι</w> <w lemma="do%2Fcan">δόξαν</w> <w lemma="nika%3D%7C">νικᾷ</w>, <w lemma="tou%3Dto">τοῦτο</w> <w lemma="kalei%3Dn">καλεῖν</w> <w lemma="dei%3D">δεῖ</w> <w lemma="dhmokrati%2Fan">δημοκρατίαν</w>. <w lemma="dio%5C">διὸ</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="ge%2Fnh">γένη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="e%28%5Cc">ἓξ</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dnai">εἶναι</w> <w lemma="r%28hte%2Fon">ῥητέον</w> <w lemma="politeiw%3Dn">πολιτειῶν</w>,
<w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="a%28%5C">ἃ</w> <w lemma="pa%2Fntes">πάντες</w> <w lemma="qrulou%3Dsi">θρυλοῦσι</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="proei%2Frhtai">προείρηται</w>, <w lemma="tri%2Fa">τρία</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftois">τούτοις</w> <w lemma="sumfuh%3D">συμφυῆ</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="monarxi%2Fan">μοναρχίαν</w>, <w lemma="o%29ligarxi%2Fan">ὀλιγαρχίαν</w>, <w lemma="o%29xlokrati%2Fan">ὀχλοκρατίαν</w>.
<w lemma="prw%2Fth">πρώτη</w> <w lemma="me%5Cn">μὲν</w> <w lemma="ou%29%3Dn">οὖν</w> <w lemma="a%29kataskeu%2Fws">ἀκατασκεύως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="fusikw%3Ds">φυσικῶς</w> <w lemma="suni%2Fstatai">συνίσταται</w> <w lemma="monarxi%2Fa">μοναρχία</w>, <w lemma="tau%2Fth%7C">ταύτῃ</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fpetai">ἕπεται</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="genna%3Dtai">γεννᾶται</w> <w lemma="meta%5C">μετὰ</w> <w lemma="kataskeuh%3Ds">κατασκευῆς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="diorqw%2Fsews">διορθώσεως</w> <w lemma="basilei%2Fa">βασιλεία</w>.
<w lemma="metaballou%2Fshs">μεταβαλλούσης</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="ta%5C">τὰ</w> <w lemma="sumfuh%3D">συμφυῆ</w> <w lemma="kaka%2F">κακά</w>, <w lemma="le%2Fgw">λέγω</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="turanni%2Fd%27">τυραννίδ᾽</w>, <w lemma="au%29%3Dqis">αὖθις</w> <w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="katalu%2Fsews">καταλύσεως</w> <w lemma="a%29ristokrati%2Fa">ἀριστοκρατία</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fetai">φύεται</w>.
<w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="mh%5Cn">μὴν</w> <w lemma="tau%2Fths">ταύτης</w> <w lemma="ei%29s">εἰς</w> <w lemma="o%29ligarxi%2Fan">ὀλιγαρχίαν</w> <w lemma="e%29ktrapei%2Fshs">ἐκτραπείσης</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w>, <w lemma="tou%3D">τοῦ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="plh%2Fqous">πλήθους</w> <w lemma="o%29rgh%3D%7C">ὀργῇ</w> <w lemma="metelqo%2Fntos">μετελθόντος</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="tw%3Dn">τῶν</w> <w lemma="proestw%2Ftwn">προεστώτων</w> <w lemma="a%29diki%2Fas">ἀδικίας</w>, <w lemma="genna%3Dtai">γεννᾶται</w> <w lemma="dh%3Dmos">δῆμος</w>.
<w lemma="e%29k">ἐκ</w> <w lemma="de%5C">δὲ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftou">τούτου</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin">πάλιν</w> <w lemma="u%28%2Fbrews">ὕβρεως</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="paranomi%2Fas">παρανομίας</w> <w lemma="a%29poplhrou%3Dtai">ἀποπληροῦται</w> <w lemma="su%5Cn">σὺν</w> <w lemma="xro%2Fnois">χρόνοις</w> <w lemma="o%29xlokrati%2Fa">ὀχλοκρατία</w>.
<w lemma="gnoi%2Fh">γνοίη</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29%2Fn">ἄν</w> <w lemma="tis">τις</w> <w lemma="safe%2Fstata">σαφέστατα</w> <w lemma="peri%5C">περὶ</w> <w lemma="tou%2Ftwn">τούτων</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="a%29lhqw%3Ds">ἀληθῶς</w> <w lemma="e%29stin">ἐστιν</w> <w lemma="oi%28%3Da">οἷα</w> <w lemma="dh%5C">δὴ</w> <w lemma="nu%3Dn">νῦν</w> <w lemma="ei%29%3Dpon">εἶπον</w>, <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="ta%5Cs">τὰς</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstwn">ἑκάστων</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="a%29rxa%5Cs">ἀρχὰς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="gene%2Fseis">γενέσεις</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="metabola%5Cs">μεταβολὰς</w> <w lemma="e%29pisth%2Fsas">ἐπιστήσας</w>.
<w lemma="o%28">ὁ</w> <w lemma="ga%5Cr">γὰρ</w> <w lemma="sunidw%5Cn">συνιδὼν</w> <w lemma="e%28%2Fkaston">ἕκαστον</w> <w lemma="au%29tw%3Dn">αὐτῶν</w> <w lemma="w%28s">ὡς</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fetai">φύεται</w>, <w lemma="mo%2Fnos">μόνος</w> <w lemma="a%29%5Cn">ἂν</w> <w lemma="ou%28%3Dtos">οὗτος</w> <w lemma="du%2Fnaito">δύναιτο</w> <w lemma="sunidei%3Dn">συνιδεῖν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsin">αὔξησιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29kmh%5Cn">ἀκμὴν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="metabolh%5Cn">μεταβολὴν</w> <w lemma="e%28ka%2Fstwn">ἑκάστων</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="te%2Flos">τέλος</w>, <w lemma="po%2Fte">πότε</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pw%3Ds">πῶς</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="pou%3D">ποῦ</w> <w lemma="katanth%2Fsei">καταντήσει</w> <w lemma="pa%2Flin:">πάλιν·</w>
<w lemma="ma%2Flista">μάλιστα</w> <w lemma="d%27">δ᾽</w> <w lemma="e%29pi%5C">ἐπὶ</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="%2A%28rwmai%2Fwn">Ῥωμαίων</w> <w lemma="politei%2Fas">πολιτείας</w> <w lemma="tou%3Dton">τοῦτον</w> <w lemma="a%28rmo%2Fsein">ἁρμόσειν</w> <w lemma="to%5Cn">τὸν</w> <w lemma="tro%2Fpon">τρόπον</w> <w lemma="u%28pei%2Flhfa">ὑπείληφα</w> <w lemma="th%3Ds">τῆς</w> <w lemma="e%29chgh%2Fsews">ἐξηγήσεως</w> <w lemma="dia%5C">διὰ</w> <w lemma="to%5C">τὸ</w> <w lemma="kata%5C">κατὰ</w> <w lemma="fu%2Fsin">φύσιν</w> <w lemma="au%29th%5Cn">αὐτὴν</w> <w lemma="a%29p%27">ἀπ᾽</w> <w lemma="a%29rxh%3Ds">ἀρχῆς</w> <w lemma="ei%29lhfe%2Fnai">εἰληφέναι</w> <w lemma="th%2Fn">τήν</w> <w lemma="te">τε</w> <w lemma="su%2Fstasin">σύστασιν</w> <w lemma="kai%5C">καὶ</w> <w lemma="th%5Cn">τὴν</w> <w lemma="au%29%2Fchsin">αὔξησιν</w>.
|
<head>The Rotation of Polities</head>I will illustrate the truth of what I say. We cannot<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note3">Six forms of polity, and their natural cycle.</note>hold every absolute government to be a kingship, but only that which is accepted voluntarily, and is directed by an appeal to reason rather than to fear and force. Nor again is every oligarchy to be regarded as an aristocracy; the latter exists only where the power is wielded by the justest and wisest men selected on their merits. Similarly, it is not enough to constitute a democracy that the whole crowd of citizens should have the right to do whatever they wish or propose. But where reverence to the gods, succour of parents, respect to elders, obedience to laws, are traditional and habitual, in such communities, if the will of the majority prevail, we may speak of the form of government as a democracy. So then we enumerate six forms of government,—the three commonly spoken of which I have just mentioned, and three more allied forms, I mean<term>despotism, oligarchy</term>and<term>mob-rule.</term>The first of these arises without artificial aid and in the natural order of events. Next to this, and produced from it by the aid of art and adjustment, comes<term>kingship;</term>which degenerating into the evil form allied to it, by which I mean<term>tyranny,</term>both are once more destroyed and<term>aristocracy</term>produced. Again the latter being in the course of nature perverted to<term>oligarchy,</term>and the people passionately avenging the unjust acts of their rulers,<term>democracy</term>comes into existence; which again by its violence and contempt of law becomes sheer<term>mob-rule.</term><note anchored="yes" place="unspecified" id="note4">Aristotle's classification is kingship, aristocracy,<foreign lang="greek">πολιτεία,</foreign>democracy, oligarchy, tyranny (<bibl n="Aristot. Pol. 4.2" default="NO" valid="yes">Pol. 4, 2</bibl>). This was derived from Plato (<bibl n="Plat. Stat. 302c" default="NO" valid="yes">Pol. 302, c</bibl>.) who arranges the six (besides the ideal polity) in pairs, kingship, tyranny,—aristocracy, oligarchy,—democracy, good and bad. Plato has no distinct name, except<foreign lang="greek">δημοκρατία παράνομος,</foreign>for the bad democracy which Polybius calls<foreign lang="greek">ὀχλοκρατία,</foreign>"mob-rule." Polybius's arrangement is this— Kingship (arising from a natural despotism or monarchy) degenerates into Tyranny. Aristocracy degenerates into Oligarchy. Democracy degenerates into Mob-rule.</note>No clearer<pb n="461" />proof of the truth of what I say could be obtained than by a careful observation of the natural origin, genesis, and decadence of these several forms of government. For it is only by seeing distinctly how each of them is produced that a distinct view can also be obtained of its growth, zenith, and decadence, and the time, circumstance, and place in which each of these may be expected to recur. This method I have assumed to be especially applicable to the Roman constitution, because its origin and growth have from the first followed natural causes.
|
Walbank Commentary