Ambiguities of Oikonomia in Aristotle’s Practical Thought
Abstract
In Aristotle’s Ethics, oikonomia appears either subordinate to politics (NE I 1), or on the same level as the latter (EE I 5, NE VI 8) as a form of practical wisdom. Is it possible to reconcile these two descriptions of its status? We shall attempt to answer this question by exploring the more elaborated treatment of oikonomia in book 1 of the Politics. There two conclusions emerge. The first one is that oikonomia is not only necessary for living, but also useful for living well. The second one is that, although Aristotle makes a distinction between a legitimate form of chrematistics and a bad one, and restricts the former as much as possible to the exploitation of natural resources, he remains rather evasive on the conditions and means of acquiring wealth, which are nonetheless indispensable to the exercise of virtues. What he tends to value in oikonomia is the dimension of use over that of acquisition.
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