There are those regimes that value reason, those that yearn for desire, and those that succumb to unruly appetites. The genuine leader, Plato instructs, like the psychologist ought to be keenly aware of human nature. The ruler must attend to the distribution of reason, desire and appetites in the constitution of the citizen. The goal of the well-governed regime ought to be cultivation of harmonious regimes and well-balanced human souls. Plato then proceeds to construct the ups and downs of regimes by focusing on the ups and downs of human souls.
On the shores of classical Greece, the childhood home of humanity, arose a powerful philosopher, Plato, the brilliant student of Socrates, the wise thinker, the founder of philosophy, the lover of wisdom, who deeply thought about the idea of democracy. It was he who systematically developed forms of regimes or governments and corresponding kinds of personalities. These ideas are explored in his famous Republic.
The Republic is divided into ten books. Book Eight is devoted to the exploration of forms of regimes that are appropriate for human beings. Plato introduces us to five regime types and five political personalities:
Aristocracy-Aristocrat-Knowledge
Timocracy-Timocrat-Honor
Oligarchy-Oligarch-Money
Democracy-Democrat-Freedom
Tyranny-Tyrant-Power
The aristocratic regime is governed by the principle of knowledge. The aristocrat is wise. She has a love of wisdom or knowledge. Wisdom is the ultimate goal of the aristocratic personality, who is appointed to lead the people. Her qualifications for leadership are predicated on the quality and quantity of wisdom; political wisdom. The aristocratic regime disseminates this ideal and it attempts to make it a hegemonic idea. Unfortunately, the regime dose not succeed. The people have other competing values that they wish to cultivate. Consequently, the yearning for wisdom gives way to the aggressive entrance of honor.