FOUNDATIONS
Polybius says studying history helps us understand causes and choose what is ______.
“What chiefly attracts and chiefly benefits students of history is just this—the study of causes and the consequent power of choosing what is best in each case.” (p. 271)
What is best?
Rule by one good ruler.
“The first of these to come into being is monarchy, its growth being natural…” (p. 275)
What is monarchy?
When a good king starts abusing power, monarchy turns into ______.
What is tyranny?
At first, people follow leaders because they are physically ______.
“The one who excels in bodily strength and in courage will lead and rule over them…” (p. 277)
What is stronger?
Too much freedom leads to ______.
What is lawlessness?
Polybius says the most important part of any state is its ______ (how it is structured).
“For in all matters the form of a state’s constitution is the fountain-head from which all designs and plans of action not only originate, but derive their success.” (p. 271)
What is constitution?
A bad ruler who abuses power.
“Monarchy first changes into this vicious allied form, tyranny…” (p. 275)
What is tyranny?
When corrupt elites lose control, power shifts to ______.
“When the commons, inflamed by anger, take vengeance on the oligarchs… democracy comes into being.” (p. 275)
What is the people / democracy?
Later, leadership is based more on thinking and ______.
What is reason?
Uncontrolled crowds using violence.
What is mob rule?
Polybius believes governments go through a repeating ______.
What is cycle?
Rule by a small group of the best people.
What is aristocracy?
Too much freedom in democracy leads to chaos and violent ______.
“Then in due course the license and lawlessness of this form of government develop, and the rule of violence prevails.” (p. 275)
What is mob rule?
People begin to understand right and wrong, developing ______.
“The notions of goodness, justice, and their opposites begin to arise in men.” (p. 279)
What is justice?
Leaders become corrupt when they focus only on ______.
What is self-interest/themselves?
Polybius is trying to explain why governments ______ and fall.
What is rise?
A small group ruling for themselves.
“Next, aristocracy naturally develops from monarchy, and this again changes into oligarchy…” (p. 275)
What is oligarchy?
After chaos, people usually want stability and turn back to one strong ______.
What is leader / king?
People support rulers because their ______ approves them.
“They give him willing obedience… because their judgement approves him…” (p. 281)
What is judgment?
Governments fail when they lose ______ (moral goodness).
What is virtue?
Polybius says political change is based on human ______.
“It is evident that we must regard the beginnings, origins, and changes of constitutions as being in each case natural.” (p. 275)
What is nature?
Rule by the people.
What is democracy?
Polybius says these changes in power happen because they are ______, not random.
What is natural?
Over time, ______ replaces force as the main way leaders rule.
“Thus, by this means, force having yielded the supremacy to reason…” (p. 281)
What is reason?
After collapse, people want stability and return to one strong ______.
What is leader / king?