Political Science · Political thought. The idea in plain words, the rules to remember, the mistake to avoid and a worked example, written and checked by Mega Lecture.
Plato, in the 'Republic', builds an ideal state on the model of the human soul. Reason, spirit and appetite in the soul match three classes: rulers, auxiliaries and producers. Justice means each class does its own work. Rulers must be philosophers, because only they know the Good.
Aristotle, in the 'Politics', is more practical. He compares real constitutions, sorts them by who rules and in whose interest, and prefers a mixed constitution resting on a large middle class.
Medieval thought turns on one question: who is supreme, Church or state? Augustine and Aquinas give the Church the higher purpose; Marsilius of Padua places the Church under the civil ruler.
In Aristotle's scheme 'democracy' is a perverted form (rule of the many poor in their own interest). The good form of rule by the many is 'polity'.
Answer: Oligarchy.
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