![]() ![]() ![]() He starts to chafe at the lightest touch of authority and ceases to care about any laws that interfere with his freedom. These appetites begin to grow, and the democratic man begins to reject any principle which restricts his ability to satisfy his desires. In a democracy, citizens are free to indulge any appetite and live any kind of life they desire. However, just as an excessive desire for wealth leads to the downfall of oligarchy, an excessive desire for freedom leads to the downfall of democracy. Eventually, the class of citizens who have been reduced to poverty become resentful of the rich and seize political power, distributing property and freedom equally among all citizens. ![]() Starting with the oligarchical state, in which the rulers aim to become as wealthy as possible, Plato explains how oligarchy reduces many ordinary citizens to poverty. In this passage from Book VIII of The Republic, Plato describes how democracy can arise from oligarchy and descend into tyranny. ![]()
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