Aristocracy

Another word that over the centuries has completely and unfortunately strayed from its literal meaning is 'aristocracy'. These days, 'aristocrat' is usually a derogatory reference to a member of a decadent upper-class, a status underscored by its appearance in the punchline of a legendary vulgar joke. Quite to the contrary, 'aristo' comes from Greek for 'best', so 'aristocracy' is 'rule of the best'. Probably the main source of confusion regarding this idea is that it is taken to predetermine which person or persons 'best' refers to. Instead, once it is understood that it is an objective characteristic that is intended, then it becomes obvious that all political philosophies are fundamentally Aristocratic. For, they all aim to define the best social organization possible, differing only with respect to the most effective means to that end--Monarchism, Democracy, etc. For example, Democracy, often misconstrued as a program of 'giving everybody a chance', is actually based on the premise 'Might is Right', with Might being the strength of the majority as established by vote, so, an election is implicitly a determination of the best, i. e. the most Right, of the candidates. What has perhaps been most profoundly lost in the fall from grace of the word 'aristocracy' is the implication that the source of bestness in a political system is not its structure, but the quality of its ruler(s). In other words, the significant meaning of 'aristocracy' is that great leadership transcends type of rule.