POLITICS OF ARISTOTLE

(Wang) #1
NOTES, BOOK I. 9. 31
There is another confusion in this chapter. Aristotle tries to
make a difference in kind between the legitimate and illegitimate
of exchange, but the difference is really one of degree. Trade
is not rendered illegitimate by the use of coin, which is natural
and necessary. The source of the confusion is that he never
regards exchange on the great scale as the saving of labour,
but only as the means of creating superfluous wealth.

~mcp ydp 4 tarpixrj roir tiyraiufru cis bcipdu /mi Kai i~dq rBu 8. 13.
rcpBv roc ri~ous cis Zrcrpou (Gri pihima y&p irciuo @u;Aourai rrorciu), r~u
BZ rpbs rb rAor OLK cis &cipov (ripas ydp rh relor ariuarr), oih xni
rahr is ,ypvparimi+ O~K Zmi roo3 riAovs &pas, rchs Bi 6 roroirror
7rXoirros xai xp’lprircav KTijUlS.
‘ The art of money-making, like the other arts, is limited in the
means, but unlimited in the end ; as the physician seeks health
without limit, so the money-maker seeks wealth without limit.’
Yet the analogy is defective; for there is no accumulation of
health in the same sense in which there may be an accumulation
of wealth. The physician stands really on the same footing with
the manager of the household ; for both equally seek to fulfil to the
utmost their respective functions, the one to order the household,
the other to improve the health of the patient, and there is a limit
to both. The opposition of means and ends is also questionable ;
for the end may be regarded as the sum of the means, and would
not an unlimited end, if such a conception is allowable, imply un-
limited means, or the unlimited use of limited?


is 8 OLOVO~LK~~S oi Xpqparrumjs Zmi r&ar* 06 ydp roOro rir O~KOVO- 0. 14.
P+ +you.
Lit. the art of household management which is not concerned
with money-making has a limit ; for this (sc. 6 roro%oor rXoirror, the
unlimited making of money described above) is not its business.’

2~~~€l YdP 4 XPiULS TO6 Crb6 08Ua rKaTdp iS Xp~PaTLUTbK~S. 8. 15.
‘ For the two uses of money-making being concerned with the

4 XFi-[r governs both m,-rmrxjr and roc Criroii The

same thing, namely coin or wealth, they run into each other.’

emendation of Bernays ;K~N ri XCWWTLK is unnecessary.

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