Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Despotic governments are inherently self-corrupting and u... — Carmelics
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Democracy & Governance
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Despotic governments are inherently self-corrupting and unstable.

    Democracy & Governance
    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    0 reasons for
    1 reason against

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Property is not secure in a despotic state, so commerce will not flourish and the state will be poor.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The people must be kept in fear through punishment, but punishments must escalate over time until threats lose their force.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The despot's character prevents effective rule: since every whim is granted, the despot never develops intelligence, character, or resolution.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Topics

    Democracy & GovernanceSocial Contract

    Connections

    2 topics

    Virtue Ethics1 linkedJustice & Punishment1 linked

    Related

    In the despot's absence, intrigues multiply because the rule is odious to subjec...Property is not secure in a despotic state, so commerce will not flourish and th...The despot becomes lazy, voluptuous, and ignorant, and delegates actual governan...The despot cannot rely on his army, because the more power generals have, the gr...
    +2 moreShow less
    The despot's character prevents effective rule: since every whim is granted, the...The people must be kept in fear through punishment, but punishments must escalat...

    Similar

    A great democracy must either sacrifice self-government to achieve uni...70%Concentrated government power leads to tyranny and undermines citizens...69%Representative democracy is the best ideal form of government for soci...69%When self-interested agents design basic social, economic, and politic...69%

    Source

    AI-extracted1/3 agreementValid
    SEP: montesquieu
    View source passageHide passage
    Montesquieu writes that "the principle of despotic government is subject to a continual corruption, because it is even in its nature corrupt" (SL 8.10). This is true in several senses. First, despotic governments undermine themselves. Because property is not secure in a despotic state, commerce will not flourish, and the state will be poor. The people must be kept in a state of fear by the threat of punishment; however, over time the punishments needed to keep them in line will tend to become mo
    Extraction notes

    Validity: Extracted via Max plan + API grounding/validity checks

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    1 (0 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit