Single Idea 22540

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 4. Economic equality]

Full Idea

A leveling could be very quickly achieved by the rich giving but not receiving dowries, and the poor receiving but not giving them.

Gist of Idea

Wealth could be quickly leveled by only the rich giving marriage dowries

Source

Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1266b02)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Politics', ed/tr. Reeve,C.D.C. [Hackett 2017], p.34


A Reaction

Consequence: the daughters of the rich are never again allowed to marry (or even speak to) poor people. The modern approach is graduated income tax, presumably because there are reasonably accurate records of income.