Note 290 — BOOK VI
Evelyn S. (Evelyn Shirley) Shuckburgh translation
Aristotle’s classification is kingship, aristocracy, πολιτεία, democracy, oligarchy, tyranny (Pol. 4, 2). This was derived from Plato (Pol. 302, c.) who arranges the six (besides the ideal polity) in pairs, kingship, tyranny,—aristocracy, oligarchy,—democracy, good and bad. Plato has no distinct name except δημοκρατία παράνομος, for the bad democracy which Polybius calls ὀχλοκρατία, “mob-rule.” Polybius’s arrangement is this—
Kingship (arising from a natural despotism or monarchy)degenerates into Tyranny.
Aristocracydegen”erates intoOligarchy.
Democracydegen”erates intoMob-rule.