Socrates’ Economics versus Ischomachus’ Economics
Socrates’ Economics versus Ischomachus’ Economics

Summary/Abstract: The present study seeks to deepen the understanding of Xenophon’s political philosophy as it is reflected in Socrates’ investigation of economic knowledge in the dialogue titledOeconomicus. The study concentrates on the six conventional parts of the oikos or household (house, things, slaves, land, horses, and wife), which are loosely connected with six facets of human life (pleasure, order, rule, leisure, enrichment, and education), as presented by the perfect gentleman (rich and successful) Ischomachus and his pupil, the (poor and wretched) philosopher Socrates. It demonstrates how the latter, learning Ischomachus’ economic teaching, radically transforms it, simultaneously showing the most serious possibilities lying behind the common notions of economic and political life and the inherent limitations of their fulfillment and threatening to undermine (and, indeed, undermining, in the personal case of Socrates) said ways of life as they are conventionally perceived.

• Details
• Contents