[Discussion] On the Gods and the World, Ch. XI

[sdi]

Good morning and happy Wednesday! Sallustius gives us another brief chapter this week, so let's dive right in, shall we?

XI. Concerning right and wrong Social Organization.*

Constitutions† also depend on the tripartite nature of the Soul. The rulers are analogous to Reason, the soldiers to Fight, the common folk to Desires.

Where all things are done according to Reason and the best man in the nation rules, it is a Kingdom; where more than one rule according to Reason and Fight, it is an Aristocracy; where the government is according to Desire and offices depend on money,‡ that constitution is called a Timocracy. The contraries are: to Kingdom tyranny, for Kingdom does all things with the guidance of reason and tyranny nothing; to Aristocracy oligarchy, when not the best people but a few of the worst are rulers; to Timocracy democracy, when not the rich but the common folk possess the whole power.

* Gilbert Murray notes, "This section is a meagre reminiscence of Plato's discussion in Repub. viii. The interest in politics and government had died out with the loss of political freedom." Thomas Taylor notes similarly, and further recommends Proclus' Commentaries on it.

† That is, political constitutions. Taylor gives "polities."

‡ Taylor gives "property," while Arthur Darby Nock gives "wealth."