Democracy: The Two Basic Kinds of Political Philosophy

Different political philosophies have given rise to different forms of government— monarchism, fascism, socialism, communism, democracy, etc. But Jefferson and Lincoln both believed that there are only two basic forms of government; democratic and non democratic-that is how they classified government.

Lincoln said that if the majority does not rule, then "Anarchy or despotism in some form is all that is left." Jefferson said essentially the same thing - that societies are "sufficiently distinguishable." He said there are "governments in which the will of everyone has a just influence" or there are "governments of force... or wolves over sheep." He listed no other form of government other than those two basic types.

As it is true there are only two basic forms of government, it follows that there are only two basic kinds of political philosophy, democratic and non-democratic. That too is one of the basic doctrines of our democratic political philosophy.

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