Is democracy the best expression of justice, virtues and citizenship?

Abstract

Aristotle's concept of rationality which involves a virtuous life stands in continuity with contemporary democratic states. This rational virtue as wisdom obtains an enlarged interpretation in contemporary democracies. People of today in democracies are also moved by virtue towards happiness. Virtue still leads to that end. In this sense Aristotle is a good key to the understanding of what happens in contemporary democracies. As we saw, Aristotle, although not using the words interests or utilitarianism, he does make positive statements about human needs, which in fact are interests in the polis. The responsibility of a free human rational being to its own actions is exactly what is required today in democracies. As Aristotle said, it could be hampered by ignorance, force, coercion or absence of insight. Similarly, as for Aristotle, actions are guided not by mathematically styled rules, but by wisdom, phronesis, by virtue. Aristotle's demand that justice involves treating people in a fair way, i.e. fairness, is seen to be no more urgent and important than in contemporary democracies, especially where a multi-cultural and multi-religious set up prevails. The main point, however, is in conclusion, that in non-democratic states of today, these things could not and cannot be manifested fully. Aristotle's views applied to today leads to democracy!