Pedantic Struggles: The All Encompassing Philosophy Thread™

[BurtReynolds]

What do you think about Kyklos or anacyclosis, the cyclical theory of political evolution?

The cycle of government:
ochlocracy (mob rule)
to
monarchy
to
tyranny (bad version of monarchy)
to
aristocracy
to
oligarchy (bad version of aristocracy)
to
democracy
to
ochlocracy (mob rule)
rinse and repeat

"According to Polybius, who has the most fully developed version of the cycle, it rotates through the three basic forms of government, democracy, aristocracy, and monarchy and the three degenerate forms of each of these governments ochlocracy, oligarchy, and tyranny. Originally society is in ochlocracy (government by a mob; mob rule) but the strongest figure emerges and sets up a monarchy. The monarch's descendants, who because of their family's power lack virtue, become despots and the monarchy degenerates into a tyranny. Because of the excesses of the ruler the tyranny is overthrown by the leading citizens of the state who set up an aristocracy. They too quickly forget about virtue and the state becomes an oligarchy. These oligarchs are overthrown by the people who set up a democracy. Democracy soon becomes corrupt and degenerates into ochlocracy, beginning the cycle anew.

Plato and Aristotle have somewhat different beliefs. Plato only sees five forms of government. Aristotle believes the cycle begins with monarchy and ends in anarchy, but that it does not start anew. He also refers to democracy as the degenerate form of rule by the many and calls the virtuous form politeia, which is often translated as constitutional democracy. Cicero describes anacyclosis in his philosophical work De re publica.

Machiavelli, writing during the Renaissance, appears to have adopted Polybius' version of the cycle. Machiavelli's adoption of anacyclosis can be seen in Book I, Chapter II of his Discourses on Livy."

[Mickey]

Which one are we in now Burt?

[BurtReynolds]

About to lapse into mob rule.

I saw some that say that this would be plutocracy, which would fit, too.

[Mickey]

About to lapse into mob rule.

I saw some that say that this would be plutocracy, which would fit, too.

See, I disagree with this entirely--in terms of who actually controls the levers of power--as well as with the suggestion that we were previously in democracy. I think we're solidly transitioning from aristocracy to oligarchy.

[BurtReynolds]

Been all about Kierkegaard lately. I kinda ignored him because I figured he had been improve upon by later existentialists, but now it seems that he nailed a lot things.

I've been lost in the infinite too long.

"Anxiety is the dizziness of freedom."

[BurtReynolds]

Nietzsche was honkpilled AF

[LoathedVermin72]

[BurtReynolds]

Last edited by BurtReynolds on Fri June 07, 2019 2:11 am, edited 2 times in total.

[BurtReynolds]

[Alex]

why doesn’t anyone else here care about philosophy, burf?

[BurtReynolds]

why doesn’t anyone else here care about philosophy, burf?

*the greatest minds of all talk in memes and inspirational quotes.

[washing machine]

[Green Habit]

why doesn’t anyone else here care about philosophy, burf?

*the greatest minds of all talk in memes and inspirational quotes.

Thus, this needs to be remade into the galaxy brain meme.

[Bammer]

Land ownership is an antiquated concept

Go on...

[Bi_3]

Land ownership is an antiquated concept

Go on...

Good lord man, dont start them on this one again!

[washing machine]

No, please start. I want in on this ride.

[BurtReynolds]

[BurtReynolds]

why doesn’t anyone else here care about philosophy, burf?

*the greatest minds of all talk in memes and inspirational quotes.

Thus, this needs to be remade into the galaxy brain meme.

Braindead tier is discussing Trump tweets.

[BurtReynolds]

I think Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure ruined any interest I had in philosophy until I grew up. I hated So-crates for some reason and thought that philosophy was just a bunch of old nerds wearing togas trying to decide if chairs really exist. But it turns out most of them were ripped Chad dudebros who could break your skull if you called them a nerd. Thus they are worthy of my interest.

[BurtReynolds]