Source: On the Social Contract by Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1762).
On Democracy
People have always argued a great deal over the best form of government [monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy, according to Rousseau) without considering that each of them is best in certain cases, and the worst in others.
In the strict sense of the term, a true democracy has never existed and never will exist. It is contrary to the natural order that the majority govern and the minority be governed. It is unimaginable that the people remain constantly assembled to attend to public affairs…
If there were a people of Gods, it would govern itself democratically. Such a perfect government is not suited to men.
On Aristocracy
There are, therefore, three kinds of aristocracy: natural, elective, and hereditary. The first is suited only to simple peoples. The third is the worst of all governments. The second is the best…
Besides the advantage of distinguishing between the two powers, aristocracy has that [advantage] of the choice of its members. For in popular government [democracy] all the citizens are born magistrates, whereas this type [aristocracy] limits them to a small number, and they become magistrates only through election, a means by which [integrity], enlightenment, experience, and all the other reasons for public preference and esteem become so many new guarantees of being well governed…
In short, it is the best and most natural order for the wisest to govern the multitude as long as it is certain that they govern for its benefit and not for their own.
What type of government does Rousseau think is best? What is his argument?
What does Rousseau mean when he says, “It is contrary to the natural order that the majority govern and the minority be governed. It is unimaginable that the people remain constantly assembled to attend to public affairs…”
plz answer by the 18th