= 27d567bc2d48d9f40e9ccc20ea370b15)
IlyaShpitser comments on Democracy and rationality - Less Wrong Discussion
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
= 783df68a0f980790206b9ea87794c5b6)
Loading…= b715d02e85f7b3b4ae65ca3d3e450868)
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Powered by Reddit
= f037147d6e6c911a85753b9abdedda8d)
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
Comments (47)
The idea that oligarchy naturally evolves (declines?) into democracy is an old one, famously expressed in Plato's Republic (still a good read, in my opinion).
I'm not sure about 'naturally'; it seems more likely that the various factors which /could/ combine to spur democracy will naturally wax and wane in different patterns, occasionally all lining up at the same time and providing would-be democrats an opportunity.
Then again, I could be wrong. Anyone have some decent references comparing how democracies have historically started off?
Traditionally, the birth of democracy is attributed to Ancient Greece. I don't have references handy but I'm sure it's very googleable.
The original idea for it may come from there, yes; but why did that idea get implemented at any particular time, instead of earlier or later?
Oh, boy. That's a topic about which there is little consensus, if any. You're basically asking for a comprehensive theory which explains how and why various political structures arose and fell in the course of history. That's a very contentious field filled with mindkilling mines...