Posted: July 26th, 2016

Do you find that Aristotle is correct about the relationship between the rich and the poor in our modern democracies?

ESSAY 1
READ THE ARISTOTLE PIECE AND SELECT ONE PROMPT FOR YOUR ESSAY
1. Aristotle says, “Because the rich are generally few in number, while the poor are many, they appear to be antagonistic, and as the one or the other prevails they form the government” (para. 4). Do you find that Aristotle is correct about the relationship between the rich and the poor in our modern democracies? Aristotle implies that when the rich govern, we have an oligarchy, and when the poor govern, we have a democracy. Does this view correlate with your observations about government? Why does he raise the issue of class warfare between the rich and the poor?
2. Aristotle says, “Of forms of democracy first comes that which is said to be based strictly on equality.” What does he seem to mean by equality? What, in terms of government, do you think the term equality means today? Is it possible to have a democracy without equality? Why would equality be such an important issue in any form of government? What is your definition of equality? Do you think equality is possible in a modern state?
3. 6. In discussing some of the dangers of majority rule in a democracy, Aristotle raises the issue of the possibility of creating a demagogue. What does he mean? What is a demagogue, and how could a democracy produce one? What harm might a demagogue cause a democratic state? What examples of modern demagogues speak to the issues Aristotle raises?
4. 7. Aristotle makes a clear distinction between the minority wealthy class and the majority poor class. When only the wealthy have power, the state is an oligarchy. When the poor have power, the state is a democracy. How would Aristotle’s theories be altered if he considered a numerous middle class between the rich and the poor? When the middle class is the majority of the population, how does that affect the distinction between democracy and oligarchy? Would a dominant middle class produce a democracy or an oligarchy?