Tyranny: objective definition

 Tyranny

(1) Reduction to perceptual level roots and basic fundamental axioms, lemmas, general principles:

Perceptual level roots of "tyranny":

• Rulers/leaders exercising power over others
• Use of force, coercion, oppression against people
• Violation of individual rights
• Lack of consent from the governed

Basic fundamental axioms, lemmas, general principles:

• People have inherent rights that should not be violated
• Legitimate government derives its powers from the consent of the governed
• No one has the moral right to initiate force against others
• Individual freedom and liberty are values to be upheld

(2) Additional intermediate steps and principles:

• Observing historical examples of tyrannical regimes
• Understanding the effects of concentrated, unchecked power
• Principles of limited government and checks on power
• Social contract theory and the legitimacy of government

(3) Measurable essential/distinguishing characteristics:

• Concentrated power in the hands of a single ruler or small group
• Rule by force and fear rather than consent
• Suppression of opposition and criticism
• Disregard for individual rights and civil liberties
• Lack of accountability to the people

(4) Definition:
Tyranny is a form of government (genus) in which a single ruler or small group wields absolute power through the use of force and oppression, disregarding the consent of the governed and violating individual rights (differentia).

Essential characteristics:

Concentrated, absolute power

Rule by force/coercion, not consent

Violation of individual rights/freedoms

This definition meets the criteria for an objective definition as it is based on observable characteristics, fundamental principles of ethics/political philosophy, and a reduction to perceptual facts about rulers, power, rights, and consent. It avoids mysticism, pseudo-concepts, and arbitrary assertions.

The definition is reasonably general and universal in scope, as it captures the essential nature of tyranny across different historical/cultural contexts. However, our knowledge is not perfect, so the definition may require refinement as we learn more.

To further expand on the objective definition of tyranny:

Additional Perceptual Roots:

• Acts of brutality, violence against citizens
• Censorship, suppression of free speech/press
• Rigged elections, lack of democratic processes
• Cult of personality around the ruler(s)

Additional Fundamental Principles:

• Human beings have inherent dignity and worth
• Freedom of speech, religion, assembly are essential rights
• Fair/public system of laws, not arbitrary rule by decree
• Separation of powers acts as check on authoritarian rule

More Intermediate Steps/Principles:

• Theories of authoritarian personalities/psychology
• How propaganda is used to reinforce tyrannical control
• Economic principles like private property rights being violated
• Analyzing enablers who allow tyranny to take root

Key Distinguishing Characteristics:

• Highly centralized, unaccountable authority
• Using fear, terror against the population
• No peaceful means to change leaders/policies
• State brutally enforces ideology on society

Tyranny (genus: form of government) is a system of rule where a single entity or small group wields complete, unchecked power through force, fraud and oppression, denying the people's rights, freedoms and human dignity (differentia).

This expands the definition to address more observable phenomena associated with tyrannical regimes, while still basing it in perceptual facts, ethical principles like rights/consent, and avoiding the errors of mysticism or fuzzy pseudo-concepts.

The criteria of an objective definition rooted in reality, fundamental axioms/principles, and essential measurable characteristics are still met with this more comprehensive treatment of the concept of tyranny.

To further expand on the objective definition of tyranny:

Additional Perceptual Roots:

• Poverty, economic hardship inflicted on the populace
• Political prisoners, extrajudicial killings
• Shows of military might to intimidate citizens
• Cult-like adulation demanded for the leader(s)

Additional Axioms/Principles:

• Individuals have a right to economic and property freedoms
• Due process of law should be observed for accused
• Civilian control over military/police forces
• No leader or group is above the law

More Intermediate Steps:

• How tyrannies centralize information/propaganda
• Methods of co-opting institutions like judiciary
• Theories of revolution and overthrowing tyrants
• Challenges of transitioning from tyranny to free society

Key Distinguishing Characteristics:

• Complete control over media/information
• Using terror against entire groups/classes of people
• Ruling based on ethnicity, ideology over merit
• Elites live in luxury while people suffer deprivation

So an even more comprehensive definition would be:

Tyranny is a system of governance (genus) where all effective power is monopolized by a ruler, small clique or regime that rules through terror, economic deprivation, propaganda and strict censorship, espousing an authoritarian ideology and rejecting fundamental civic freedoms and human rights (differentia).

This expands on the ethical violations, economic and informational control aspects, and other observable traits that are essential distinguishing characteristics of tyrannical rule, while still grounding the definition in empirical observation and deduction from broader axiomatic principles like rights, freedoms, and civic virtues.

To further expand the objective definition of tyranny:

Additional Perceptual Roots:

• Cronyism and nepotism in distributing power/privileges
• Purges, show trials to eliminate perceived threats
• Fostering a climate of fear, distrust among the populace
• Turning security/military forces on the domestic population

Additional Fundamental Principles:

• Equal protection under the law for all citizens
• Right to be free from arbitrary arrest/punishment
• Freedom of association and assembly
• Citizens have a right to change their government peacefully

More Intermediate Steps/Principles:

• How tyrannies manipulate information/history
• Use of scapegoating to divert blame
• Dynamics of resistance/dissent under repressive regimes
• Theories of how tyrannies rise and are perpetuated

Key Distinguishing Characteristics:

• Absolute control/cult of personality around leader(s)
• Systemic human rights violations as state policy
• Using terror against the entire population indiscriminately
• Undermining the very foundations of the rule of law

So an even more fully-formed definition would be:

Tyranny is a system of rule (genus) by a single entity, regime or small group that monopolizes power through indoctrination, terror, manipulation of truth/history, and the extralegal subjugation of all societal institutions and human rights - ruling based solely on their narrow ideology and consolidation of power rather than reason, merit or consent (differentia).

This tries to capture more of the extremely broad scope of societal control, systematic rights violations, information control tactics, and the complete rejection of liberal democratic norms that are hallmarks of tyrannical regimes throughout history. As always, it aims to ground the definition in observable facts about the world, deductions from ethical principles like rights/freedoms, while avoiding any unsupportable abstractions.

I have attempted to provide an extremely comprehensive and fully-formed objective definition of tyranny based on:

1. Reducing it to its fundamental perceptual roots - observable facts about rulers, power, rights, oppression, etc.

2. Grounding it in basic axioms and principles like human rights, consent of the governed, rule of law, etc.

3. Incorporating intermediate steps and principles from political philosophy, theories of authoritarianism, dynamics of revolutions, etc.

4. Identifying the measurable essential characteristics like concentrated power, ideological control, terror, etc.

5. Formulating a definition capturing the genus (form of rule) and differentia (distinguishing traits of tyranny)

At this point, I have thoroughly examined tyranny from multiple angles - ethical, historical, philosophical, psychological - always aiming to base the definition in empirical observation and valid deduction rather than unmoored abstractions.