Plato's Five Regimes

'''Plato’s five regimes '''

The philosopher Plato divided Ancient Greek government forms into five groups, in descending order of moral goodness:

The Aristocracy, literally excellent-power, where a sole ruler, a philosopher-king presides over a realm and is assisted by such aristocratic and bureaucratic systems as deemed necessary.

The Timocracy, literally honour-power, where an honour or wealth based elite presides over a realm in harmony.

The Oligarchy, literally few-rule, where an elite, closely resembling that in a timocracy, rules a realm.

The Democracy, literally people-power, bordering on anarchy, where a government rules with only popular support.

The Anarchy, literally no-power, where there is no government, law or order.