POL S101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Liberal Democracy, Open Government, Aristocracy
30 Mar 2016
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All adult citizens should have an equal and e ective voice in their political community. A system in which citizens make governing decisions themselves. Citizens met in an open assembly ten times a year. Held a discussion where all citizens could participate. The governing decisions were made through a vote by those present. Plato viewed democracy as involving leaders of the mass of people plundering the rich and distributing some of their wealth. Tyranny would result since the mass would likely give up its freedom to a popular leader. Aristotle viewed democracy as a perverted form of government where the poor governed in their own interests by taking the property of the rich and argued that it did not work for the common good. Polity could be a good form of government if it abided by the laws and governed for the common good. Aristocracy was not practical in most cases because of the small number of virtuous men.
