How do the wealthy few come to rule, and why does it matter? Aristotle tackled these questions 2300 years ago, and his answers are still eye-opening today.
In this video, we explore Aristotle’s book “Politics,” where he breaks down different types of government, including oligarchy - when the rich call the shots. Aristotle didn’t just theorize; he studied 158 constitutions from Greek city-states and beyond, giving us deep insights into how governments really work.
Following our last video on tyranny, we now turn to oligarchy, another system Aristotle saw as problematic. We’ll examine how leadership based on merit can gradually shift into rule by the wealthy, and the various forms this can take. Aristotle’s keen observations help us spot the signs of wealth steering the ship of state, even in seemingly democratic systems.
We’ll also discuss Aristotle’s thoughts on the fall of oligarchies. How did these regimes topple if money speaks louder than the voices of ordinary citizens? Aristotle’s analysis of how money and power intertwine is as relevant now as it was in ancient Greece. His insights shed light on political dynamics that continue to shape our world today.
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Are his findings reflective of the world today/our current predicament?
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Money does not giveth foresight, but it does help bestow misery upon the masses.
Like I said… “Money does not giveth foresight, but it does help bestow misery upon the masses.”
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¿What is it about power and riches that turns the powerful and rich into tyrannical fools?
Getting needs met without relying on others who may exploit that need makes one feel powerful, independent.
If one focuses on that feeling of power and independence from others, it can get perverted into power and independence over others…making others dependent on self/us. But that is not true power.
True power sets free self/others to give freely to/of each other. Without exploitation.
Like @Ecmandu was talking about with teaching a language. As long as it isn’t a secret language used by people who exploit other people by using euphemisms that hide what’s really going on, and trigger words that manipulate.
The statement you make does indeed offer a compelling answer to the question, “What is it about power and riches that turns the powerful and rich into tyrannical fools?”
It suggests that the ability to meet one’s needs without relying on others creates a sense of independence and power. However, when this feeling of independence becomes a fixation, it can morph into the desire to exert power over others, making others dependent and therefore reinforcing one’s own dominance. This, however, is a false form of power.
The statement contrasts this distorted power with true power, which is characterized by freedom—not just for oneself but for others as well. True power comes from enabling mutual freedom and interdependence, where people can give to and support one another without the dynamics of exploitation. Tyranny, by contrast, arises when the powerful and rich lose sight of this principle and seek to control rather than liberate, leading them to foolishness and moral corruption.
This answer captures the essence of how unchecked power and wealth can lead individuals to become tyrannical by focusing on control rather than cooperation, thereby losing the essence of what true, just power should be.
The four paths that Felix named—knowledge, action, devotion, and meditation—can offer a way to understand and counteract the perversion of power and riches in the scenario you describe.
By studying philosophy, history, or ethics, they would come to understand how unchecked power can corrupt, turning independence into dominance.
The path of action emphasizes the importance of engaging with the world through selfless deeds. In the context of power and riches, someone following this path would focus on using their resources and influence to benefit others rather than to dominate or exploit.
Devotion in this context could mean dedication to a higher ideal—such as justice, fairness, or the common good—rather than self-aggrandizement.
Meditation here involves deep reflection on the self and one’s relationship to power. A person on this path would spend time contemplating the nature of true power and independence, recognizing that exploiting others ultimately harms both the oppressor and the oppressed.
Together, these four paths provide a holistic approach to countering the tendencies of power and wealth to corrupt:
Knowledge teaches the powerful to understand the dangers of unchecked authority.
Action directs them to use their influence responsibly, for the betterment of others.
Devotion instills a sense of humility and service, preventing power from becoming a tool for self-glorification.
Meditation fosters self-awareness and alignment with higher principles, allowing them to reflect on their role in a larger moral and spiritual order.
As I have shown here, it doesn’t matter what tradition we come from.
Traditionally, but that has started to erode since the re-formation, and new bits have axiomatically came op , and not merely from the printing press, the types and the archetypes have produced a necessary simulation, lest it be forgotten.
