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Single Idea 22561

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 4. External Goods / c. Wealth ]

Full Idea

The rich seem to possess already the things for the sake of which unjust people do injustice, which is why the rich are called both noble and good and notable.

Gist of Idea

The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes

Source

Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1293b38)

Book Ref

Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.94

A Reaction

This doesn't seem (at least in popular lore) to apply to those who acquired their wealth by unjust means, because by then injustice has become a habit.

The 18 ideas with the same theme [possession of money as a possible virtue]:

341 Wealth is good if it is accompanied by virtue [Socrates]
13551 Democritus says wealth is a burden to the virtuous mind [Democritus, by Seneca]
242 The best people are produced where there is no excess of wealth or poverty [Plato]
256 Virtue and great wealth are incompatible [Plato]
351 War aims at the acquisition of wealth, because we are enslaved to the body [Plato]
108 The virtue of generosity requires money [Aristotle]
22561 The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes [Aristotle]
5859 Rich people are mindlessly happy [Aristotle]
1539 The endless desire for money is a crueller slavery than poverty [Democritus (attr)]
526 Small appetite makes poverty equal to wealth [Democritus (attr)]
5894 All men except philosophers fear poverty [Cicero]
6293 It is almost impossible for the rich to go to heaven [Jesus]
13563 Why does your wife wear in her ears the income of a wealthy house? [Seneca]
13564 There is far more scope for virtue if you are wealthy; poverty only allows endurance [Seneca]
13565 If wealth was a good, it would make men good [Seneca]
17228 Rational people judge money by needs, and live contented with very little [Spinoza]
18287 People now find both wealth and poverty too much of a burden [Nietzsche]
20692 Money does produce happiness, but only up to a point [Harari]