Plato and Aristotle 143are Monarchy (rule of the one), Aristocracy (rule of the few), and
Polity or constitutional form (rule of the many). The bad forms
are, in the same order, Tyranny, Oligarchy, and Democracy.
The three good forms, monarchy, aristocracy, and polity are
good because those in control govern for the common good. If
a monarch rules as best he can for the common good, to make the
subjects good and the state just— that is a good form. If the
aristocracy, the rule of the best, govern in order that the public
benefits through good laws, equal justice and honest administra
tion—then the form is good. Finally, if the many, under a
constitution which insures that the laws, administration of jus
tice, economic climate and education are equitable and fairly
shared, then the polity exists— a good form.
However, each form is subject to corruption. Tyranny is not
the rule of the best, the most virtuous man, who rules for the
common good, but rather one who rules by force for his own or
his favorites’ gain. Oligarchy is not the rule of the few wise men
who dispense justice well and do their duty, but the rule of the
corrupt few who manipulate their office for their own ends.
Polity, the rule of the many under law, can become a democracy,
in which the law of the many becomes the rule. When the masses
use their numbers to make laws which are enacted, not on
constitutional principles, but rather on the principle of the weight
of numbers, the polity is corrupted into a democracy. Also, when
many factions seek to enhance their particular group’s advan
tage at the expense of the common good, democracy, the bad
form prevails.
Ideally, the monarchy would be the best form of government,
but the monarchy when corrupted would become a tyranny,
which is the the worst form. Also, the monarchy is the most
easily corrupted and therefore quite probably destined to be
come a tyranny. Since Aristotle is more concerned with the
practical, and is skeptical of the ideal, he does not favor monar
chy.
Citizenship, according to Aristotle, is different in different
forms of government; the citizens in a polity will be different
from those in a monarchy. The essential quality, however, that
is a requirement for citizenship in the best form of government
is the ability to govern as well as be governed. Therefore, in a
polity where the broad middle class exists, the citizen will be one