Then there is the "golden mean" or medium which Aristotle describes
"aristocracy" or "polity" or a place in between the two it is the modern
middle class or bourgeoisie. Where are they represented in this scheme of
things? They are the anchor that can prevent any socioeconomic and
political polarization in society. Where are they? Ohh yes I remember the
"podatkoviy maidan" that was brutally and swiftly suppressed when
Yanukovych came to power and a thriving and emerging entrepreneurial middle
class began to grow in the last years of Yushchenko's presidency. That was
the neo"dekurkulization" and neo"expropriation" of the "class enemy" that
could have brought Ukraine out of its post-soviet darkness as a leftover of
the soviet regime. They are nowhere to be seen on maidan or in the media as
they alone can check the monopolistic power of the oligarchy and contain
the destructive and rebellious tendencies of the "proletarian holota" mob.
PI
http://www.stoa.org/projects/demos/article_aristotle_democracy?page=7
1265b<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Aristot.+Pol.+1265b>:
26-28: The system of government called polity is midway between democracy
and oligarchy.
1293b<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Aristot.+Pol.+1293b>:
33-37: Polity is, to put it simply, a mixture of oligarchy and democracy.
The kinds of polities that tend towards democracy are customarily referred
to by the name of polity, while those that tend towards oligarchy are
called aristocracies.
1307a<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Aristot.+Pol.+1307a>:
15-16: The systems of government inclining more toward oligarchy are called
aristocracies, while those inclining more toward the multitude
(plethos<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/morphindex?lang=greek&lookup=plh=qos>)
[which can also mean “democracy”] are called polities.
1307a<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Aristot.+Pol.+1307a>:
5-8: Polities and aristocracies are undone by diverging from that which
constitutes justice in the two different systems of government, [which is
not necessarily the same thing in each system]. The starting point in a
polity is when democracy and oligarchy have been not mixed appropriately
[literally, “finely”].
1275b<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Aristot.+Pol.+1275b>:
1-3: Diverging and erroneous systems of government are necessarily
subsequent, not prior to correct [straight] systems.
1279b<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Aristot.+Pol.+1279b>:
4-10: There are three systems of government diverging from the three
“straight” systems: tyranny diverging from kingship, oligarchy diverging
from aristocracy, and democracy diverging from polity. Each diverging
system (parekbasis<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/morphindex?lang=greek&lookup=parekba/sis>)
is structured to operate to the advantage of the ruler(s); for example,
democracy is rule to the advantage of the poor. None of the diverging
systems aims at the profit of every type of
citizen<http://www.stoa.org/projects/demos/selector?key=citizen&greekEncoding=UnicodeC>in
common.
Pay attention to the last paragraph and how Aristotle defined "democracy"
On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 8:22 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:
> One of the founders, Martyniuk, has just posted a seminal item. Cf. here:
> http://forum.maidanua.org/T-%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%
> D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%86%D1%96%D1%8F-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BB%D0%
> B0%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BC%D1%
> 83-%D0%B2-%D0%A3%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D1%96-%D0%BB
>
> To simplify (in Aristotelian terms) M. feels there are now three players
> in the development of Ukraine's future, Yanuk &c., the "opposition", and
> the people who rose in late November.
> He feels that the interests of these three parties are fundamentally
> divergent. Yanuk is hated by the opp. and the people but for very different
> reasons. He represents an attempt to institute "tyranny" in Ukraine
> (one-man rule for the interest of the ruler). The "opps." prefers
> "oligarchy" (rule of many for their benefit, but not for the benefit of all
> people), and want to topple him but not to fundamentally change the system.
> The risen people want a system change towards "democracy" and the rule of
> law.
>
> Who will win?
>
>
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