ABSTRACT
Two accusations shadow the legacy of Vilfredo Pareto: that he was a fascist and that he was anti-democratic. While these criticisms are related, they have historically relied on different logics. Those who accuse Pareto of fascism point to details from his biography; however, the bulk of this evidence, most of which is drawn from Pareto’s final years, is ambiguous. In contrast, critics who find Pareto anti-democratic have tended to reach that conclusion through his writing, especially his political analysis in the Trattato. This chapter identifies four potential anti-democratic tendencies in Pareto’s writing: his focus on the illogical, his supposed moral relativism, his opposition to ideas of progress, and his elitism. The chapter proceeds by locating these themes in his late political writings. Contrary to many critics, this chapter concludes by finding in these themes not anti-democratic propaganda but a detached and ironic science which aspires to cultivate consolation and self-protection.
