Despotism:Vicissitudes Of A Political Term

Autocracy, despotism, absolutism are commonly used concepts of politics. There are many similarities between these concepts. These concepts are very different in ancient literature. Now, Chinese and western academic exchanges become more frequent, so, the misunderstanding of understand is inevitable. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, When the concept was introduced into China, many of the concepts are translated into "zhuanzhi"; secondly,"zhuanzhi" to serve the reality of political revolution, with obvious "derogatory", which contains a lot of criticism to the ancient political means. Therefore, the analysis of the history of the concept of despotism has certain academic value."zhuanzhi" to serve the reality of political revolution, which contains a lot of to make criticism to the ancient political means. Therefore, to analyze these concepts have certain academic value.The etymology of "Despotism" can be traced back to δεσΠοτηζ of ancient Greece. This word only with the meaning of "master" in Plato, Aristotle gives new meaning to it, described it as one kind of monarchy. Hobbes used this word again in leviathan, as the basis of the theory of country. Montesquieu established the standards for the general use of the word in The Spirit of Law."In despotic government, one alone, without low and without rule, draws everything along by his will and his caprices". In addition, other thinkers also used this concept in different sense.With the western learning introduced into China, the political term "despotism" had come into the Chinese academic vision. This term become political and historical term. Since the20th century,"zhaunzhi" has become one of the important concept which Chinese scholars use to political analysis, and that, this concept has its unique meaning which only in Chinese. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the meaning historical of despot, despotic, despotism and "zhuanzhi"...