Weakness of Aristocracy
Weakness of Aristocracy:
Aristocracy has, in common with monarchy, but the evil inherent in all kinds of Aristocracies is that they form a separate interest which is almost certain to come into conflict with the interests of the community. No wise and just principle has so far been devised for the selection of the ruling class, and no safeguard has been suggested to ensure that the few will rule in the interests of all and not for their selfish advantage.
The privileged persons, who are destined to rule, form a class of vested interests and they look on their privileges as a matter of right which ought to be transmitted unimpaired to their successors. Even Aristocracy of the best soon degenerates into a class rule.
Flushed with power and authority, they become arrogant and proud, and display towards the classes excluded from a share in the government, a harshness and cruelty which have been the more intolerable because accompanied by contempt.
Even an aristocracy of intellect has no convincing appeal to make. High intelligence is not the exclusive property of any single group, and rational individuals are distributed at random up and down the social scale.
Of course, a person from a wealthy background stands a better chance of having his intellectual potentialities developed, for he will receive encouragement from his parents and the benefits of higher education. However, experience has shown that many of our finest intellects have sprung from humble surroundings and many of them have all but educated themselves.
The rule of hereditary succession, “aristocracy of breeding”, works evil as well as good. When it has prevailed for a long time, a considerable number of hereditary dignities descend to persons quite unfit to exercise power or to make a good use of social influence. Moreover, the division of people into classes provokes envy and opposition.
The rulers become narrow, selfish and domineering causing widespread disaffection and eventually rebellion. It is
Aristocracy has, in common with monarchy, but the evil inherent in all kinds of Aristocracies is that they form a separate interest which is almost certain to come into conflict with the interests of the community. No wise and just principle has so far been devised for the selection of the ruling class, and no safeguard has been suggested to ensure that the few will rule in the interests of all and not for their selfish advantage.
The privileged persons, who are destined to rule, form a class of vested interests and they look on their privileges as a matter of right which ought to be transmitted unimpaired to their successors. Even Aristocracy of the best soon degenerates into a class rule.
Flushed with power and authority, they become arrogant and proud, and display towards the classes excluded from a share in the government, a harshness and cruelty which have been the more intolerable because accompanied by contempt.
Even an aristocracy of intellect has no convincing appeal to make. High intelligence is not the exclusive property of any single group, and rational individuals are distributed at random up and down the social scale.
Of course, a person from a wealthy background stands a better chance of having his intellectual potentialities developed, for he will receive encouragement from his parents and the benefits of higher education. However, experience has shown that many of our finest intellects have sprung from humble surroundings and many of them have all but educated themselves.
The rule of hereditary succession, “aristocracy of breeding”, works evil as well as good. When it has prevailed for a long time, a considerable number of hereditary dignities descend to persons quite unfit to exercise power or to make a good use of social influence. Moreover, the division of people into classes provokes envy and opposition.
The rulers become narrow, selfish and domineering causing widespread disaffection and eventually rebellion. It is