All four thinkers are correct, however, neither of their ideas can thrive independently without the other three. The need for a wise leader is a convincing argument, yet Aristotle fails to express how this leader’s wisdom is evaluated. Do we trust a leader for his or her academic knowledge, logic and strategy, or are qualities like empathy, patience and mercy more or less important? How is wisdom interpreted? How do we monitor this leader? How do we evaluate his failures or successes? Who is responsible for cultivating the next leader? More importantly: who will guard the guard?
A strong, well-built system is perhaps the most convincing argument. Organized systems work best if they are, in fact, organized. Yet without a prominent leader to over-see all, how can we expect the system to sustain itself? Yes, having the many facets monitor each other is effective, yet who is to assume responsibility during times of turmoil and make the difficult decisions that affect all? Who is to be held accountable for failure? Who will guard the guards?
The idea of knowledge as the foundation of a given system is a provocative thought. And yet, how is this knowledge executed? To segregate decision-making into separate units hinders the ability to communicate and deliberate as a unified system. Just like no man is an island, all issues are interconnected and have ramifications. Who will unite the experts and make definite decisions? Who will out-smart the smart people?
Finally, experience is a valid argument for any position. Practice makes perfect, right? Yet if one is practicing imperfectly, perfection will never be reached. The world changes every day in everything from science to literature and one must keep up-to-date with advances in order to remain relevant. Also, if power is given exclusively to the masses, who, then, is to be held accountable?
No system is perfect, but to piggy back on Robert Dahl’s comments on democracy, a system is perfect by degrees. An efficient system will, however, apply the best practices to meet its specific needs and ensure the sustainability of the system and, most importantly, the well-being of all citizens.