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Single Idea 13565

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

Full Idea

Wealth is not a good; for it it was, it would make men good.

Gist of Idea

If wealth was a good, it would make men good

Source

Seneca the Younger (On the Happy Life [c.60], §24)

Book Ref

Seneca: 'Dialogues and Essays', ed/tr. Davie,John [Penguin 2007], p.106

A Reaction

An immediately attractive argument, but should we assume that anything which is good will enhance our personal goodness? If goodness is a habit, then continual pursuit of wealth is the test case to examine. Seneca is right!

Related Idea

Idea 13564 There is far more scope for virtue if you are wealthy; poverty only allows endurance [Seneca]

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]