Rule by a privileged class. In classical Greece an appealing alternative to monarchy, the rule of one person, or democracy, rule by the mob. The aristocracy is defended also by Burke, in his Reflections on the Revolution in France as the repository of tradition, honour, responsibility and education, dedicated to stability and the guardian of necessary virtues that have stood the test of time. In the contemporary world, similar claims are made for CEOs, company directors, and retired judges and civil servants of the right kind.