[1256a] As a slave is a particular species of property, let us by all means inquire into the nature of property in general, and the acquisition of money, according to the manner we have proposed. In the first place then, some one may doubt whether the getting of money is the same thing as economy, or whether it is a part of it, or something subservient to it; and if so, whether it is as the art of making shuttles is to the art of weaving, or the art of making brass to that of statue founding, for they are not of the same service; for the one supplies the tools, the other the matter: by the matter I mean the subject out of which the work is finished, as wool for the cloth and brass for the statue. It is evident then that the getting of money is not the same thing as economy, for the business of the one is to furnish the means of the other to use them; and what art is there employed in the management of a family but economy, but whether this is a part of it, or something of a different species, is a doubt; for if it is the business of him who is to get money to find out how riches and possessions may be procured, and both these arise from various causes, we must first inquire whether the art of husbandry is part of money-getting or something different, and in general, whether the same is not true of every acquisition and every attention which relates to provision. But as there are many sorts of provision, so are the methods of living both of man and the brute creation very various; and as it is impossible to live without food, the difference in that particular makes the lives of animals so different from each other. Of beasts, some live in herds, others separate, as is most convenient for procuring themselves food; as some of them live upon flesh, others on fruit, and others on whatsoever they light on, nature having so distinguished their course of life, that they can very easily procure themselves subsistence; and as the same things are not agreeable to all, but one animal likes one thing and another another, it follows that the lives of those beasts who live upon flesh must be different from the lives of those who live on fruits; so is it with men, their lives differ greatly from each other; and of all these the shepherd's is the idlest, for they live upon the flesh of tame animals, without any trouble, while they are obliged to change their habitations on account of their flocks, which they are compelled to follow, cultivating, as it were, a living farm. Others live exercising violence over living creatures, one pursuing this thing, another that, these preying upon men; those who live near lakes and marshes and rivers, or the sea itself, on fishing, while others are fowlers, or hunters of wild beasts; but the greater part of mankind live upon the produce of the earth and its cultivated fruits; and the manner in which all those live who follow the direction of nature, and labour for their own subsistence, is nearly the same, without ever thinking to procure any provision by way of exchange or merchandise, such are shepherds, husband-men, [1256b] robbers, fishermen, and hunters: some join different employments together, and thus live very agreeably; supplying those deficiencies which were wanting to make their subsistence depend upon themselves only: thus, for instance, the same person shall be a shepherd and a robber, or a husbandman and a hunter; and so with respect to the rest, they pursue that mode of life which necessity points out. This provision then nature herself seems to have furnished all animals with, as well immediately upon their first origin as also when they are arrived at a state of maturity; for at the first of these periods some of them are provided in the womb with proper nourishment, which continues till that which is born can get food for itself, as is the case with worms and birds; and as to those which bring forth their young alive, they have the means for their subsistence for a certain time within themselves, namely milk. It is evident then that we may conclude of those things that are, that plants are created for the sake of animals, and animals for the sake of men; the tame for our use and provision; the wild, at least the greater part, for our provision also, or for some other advantageous purpose, as furnishing us with clothes, and the like. As nature therefore makes nothing either imperfect or in vain, it necessarily follows that she has made all these things for men: for which reason what we gain in war is in a certain degree a natural acquisition; for hunting is a part of it, which it is necessary for us to employ against wild beasts; and those men who being intended by nature for slavery are unwilling to submit to it, on which occasion such a. war is by nature just: that species of acquisition then only which is according to nature is part of economy; and this ought to be at hand, or if not, immediately procured, namely, what is necessary to be kept in store to live upon, and which are useful as well for the state as the family. And true riches seem to consist in these; and the acquisition of those possessions which are necessary for a happy life is not infinite; though Solon says otherwise in this verse:
[1256a] Since a slave is a particular kind of property, let us examine property in general and the acquisition of wealth. We will follow the method already proposed. First, someone might ask whether acquiring wealth is the same as household management, part of it, or something that supports it. If it supports household management, how does it do so? Is the relationship like making shuttles for weaving, or like making brass for casting statues? These services differ. One supplies tools, while the other supplies material. By material, I mean what the finished work is made from, such as wool for cloth or brass for statues. Clearly, acquiring wealth is not the same as household management. The first supplies resources, while the second uses them. And what art governs the use of resources within a household, if not household management? But whether acquiring wealth is part of household management or a different kind of activity remains uncertain. Suppose acquiring wealth means discovering how to obtain riches and possessions. Since these come from various sources, we must first ask whether farming belongs to wealth acquisition or is something different. More generally, we must ask the same question about every way of acquiring things and every activity concerned with supplies. There are many kinds of food, and humans and other animals have many different ways of life. Since life is impossible without food, differences in food make animals’ lives very different. Some animals live in herds, while others live alone, depending on how they can most easily find food. Some eat flesh, others eat fruit, and others eat whatever they find. Nature has shaped their ways of life so that they can obtain food very easily. Nor do all animals enjoy the same food. One likes one thing, another likes something else. So flesh-eating animals must live differently from fruit-eating animals. Human lives also differ greatly. Of all these ways of life, the shepherd’s is the most idle. Shepherds live on the flesh of tame animals without any trouble. But they must move their homes for their flocks and follow wherever the flocks go. They cultivate, as it were, a living farm. Others live by using force against living creatures, each pursuing a different kind. Some prey on other people. Those near lakes, marshes, rivers, or the sea live by fishing. Others catch birds or hunt wild animals. But most people live on the earth’s produce and cultivated crops. These, then, are roughly the ways people live when they follow nature and work to support themselves. They do not seek supplies through exchange or trade. Such people include shepherds, farmers, [1256b] robbers, fishermen, and hunters. Some combine different occupations and so live very comfortably. By making up what one occupation lacks, they depend entirely on their own efforts for their livelihood. For example, someone may be both a shepherd and a robber, or both a farmer and a hunter. The same applies to the other occupations. People follow whatever way of life necessity directs them toward. Nature herself seems to provide all animals with food, both at their birth and when they reach maturity. At the beginning of life, some receive suitable nourishment within the egg or womb. This nourishment lasts until the young can find food for themselves, as happens with worms and birds. Animals that give birth to live young carry within themselves the means to feed their young for a time: milk. From these facts, we can clearly conclude that plants exist for animals, and animals for humans. Tame animals exist for our use and food. Wild animals, at least most of them, also provide food or serve some other useful purpose, such as supplying clothing. Since nature makes nothing incomplete or pointless, nature must have made all these things for humans. For this reason, acquiring things through war is, to a certain extent, natural. Hunting is part of warfare. We must use hunting against wild animals. We must also use it against people intended by nature for slavery who refuse to submit. In such cases, war is just by nature. Only the natural kind of acquisition, then, belongs to household management. The resources it supplies should already be available or, if not, should be obtained immediately. These are the supplies necessary to sustain life and useful to both the state and the household. True wealth seems to consist in these resources. And there is a limit to the possessions needed for a happy life, though Solon says otherwise in this verse:
"No bounds to riches can be fixed for man;"
"No limit can be set on how much wealth people can have."
for they may be fixed as in other arts; for the instruments of no art whatsoever are infinite, either in their number or their magnitude; but riches are a number of instruments in domestic and civil economy; it is therefore evident that the acquisition of certain things according to nature is a part both of domestic and civil economy, and for what reason.
For they may have limits, as in other crafts. No craft has an unlimited number of tools, nor are its tools unlimited in size. But wealth is a collection of tools for managing households and states. So acquiring certain things in accordance with nature is clearly part of managing both households and states. The reason for this is also clear.