more from Jonathan Wolff

Single Idea 20502

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy]

Full Idea

Greeks assumed democracy was consistent with slavery, Rousseau that it was consistent with sexual inequality, and Wollstonecraft that it was consistent with disenfranchisement of the poor.

Gist of Idea

Democracy has been seen as consistent with many types of inequality

Source

Jonathan Wolff (An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev) [2006], 3 'Freedom')

Book Reference

Wolff,Jonathan: 'An Introduction to Political Philosophy (Rev)' [OUP 2006], p.86


A Reaction

If you are allowed to restrict the franchise in some way, then a narrow oligarchy can qualify as a democracy, with half a dozen voters.