Comparing Aristotle's Four Types Of Democracy And Oligarchy

In Book IV, Aristotle identifies the need to study the ideal state, but the bad state as well, because sometimes the statesman has to work with what he has. Aristotle focuses on the oligarchy and the democracy and differences in the rich and poor. Of the four types of democracy the worst is the extreme from, where all offices are open to anyone, and people are the law. Of the four types of oligarchies, the worst is where offices are inherited, and the magistrates have no checks or balances. Of aristocracy there is only one form, where only the good men are citizens; they are chosen for their wealth and merit. Some aristocracies are actually just polities, or compromises between democracy and oligarchy. A good constitution is a mean between
Revolution is found in any state founded on false ideas of justice; democracy is more stable than oligarchies against revolution. Some common causes include dissent over the favoring of a particular class and a lack of middle-class which causes feuds between rich and poor. In democracies, revolution can be caused when the rich are persecuted or when politicians compete to gain the favor of the populace. In oligarchies, revolution is caused by the common people rebelling against oppression. Oligarchies are usually destroyed from within, when a new oligarchy is created within the original. In aristocracies, revolution is caused by the rising against the unfair ruler(s), which can lead to the forming of an oligarchy. The ways to avoid a revolution include avoidance of class oppression, not allowing any particular individual or group become too powerful, and others. The causes which destroy and preserve monarchy are tyranny and kingship, respectively. Tyranny is a combination of the vices in democracy and oligarchy, while kingship is similar to aristocracy. Moderation is the best way to preserve kingship, while tyranny is maintained by imitation of