Plato on Money and Commercial Life

Adrian Walsh

Plato on Money and Commercial Life

Philosophy & Religion

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Plato argued in various works that commercial life is psychologically corrupting. In his two works in which the ideal city is formulated — i.e. The Republic and The Laws — we find proposals for ensuring that the citizens are quarantined from such effects. I argue herein that although Plato’s world is very distinct from our own and his attitudes involve an extreme form of anti-commercialism, his thoughts on how money might corrode still have much to teach us. He describes how societies with large discrepancies in wealth fracture into classes and this undermines any communal solidarity and he considers how immersion in the world of money can corrupt our sense of what is morally appropriate. These lessons are as compelling today as they were in ancient Greece.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Greek Research in Australia: Proceedings of The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies
Editors	Elizabeth Close, George Couvalis, George Frazis, Maria Palaktsoglou, Michael Tsianikas
Place of Publication	Adelaide, Australia
Publisher	Department of Languages -- Modern Greek Flinders University
Pages	39-46
ISBN (Print)	9780725811341
Publication status	Published - 30 Jun 2009
Event	Greek Research in Australia: The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies - Flinders University, Education Development Centre, Milner Street, Hindmarsh SA 5007, Adelaide, Australia Duration: 28 Jun 2007 → 1 Jul 2007

Conference

Conference	Greek Research in Australia: The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies
City	Adelaide, Australia
Period	28/06/07 → 1/07/07

Keywords

History of Philosophy

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abstract = "Plato argued in various works that commercial life is psychologically corrupting. In his two works in which the ideal city is formulated — i.e. The Republic and The Laws — we find proposals for ensuring that the citizens are quarantined from such effects. I argue herein that although Plato{\textquoteright}s world is very distinct from our own and his attitudes involve an extreme form of anti-commercialism, his thoughts on how money might corrode still have much to teach us. He describes how societies with large discrepancies in wealth fracture into classes and this undermines any communal solidarity and he considers how immersion in the world of money can corrupt our sense of what is morally appropriate. These lessons are as compelling today as they were in ancient Greece.",

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booktitle = "Greek Research in Australia: Proceedings of The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies",

publisher = "Department of Languages -- Modern Greek Flinders University",

note = "Greek Research in Australia: The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies ; Conference date: 28-06-2007 Through 01-07-2007",

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Walsh, A 2009, Plato on Money and Commercial Life. in E Close, G Couvalis, G Frazis, M Palaktsoglou & M Tsianikas (eds), Greek Research in Australia: Proceedings of The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies. Department of Languages -- Modern Greek Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, pp. 39-46, Greek Research in Australia: The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Adelaide, Australia, 28/06/07. <https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/5675>

Plato on Money and Commercial Life. / Walsh, Adrian.
Greek Research in Australia: Proceedings of The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies. ed. / Elizabeth Close; George Couvalis; George Frazis; Maria Palaktsoglou; Michael Tsianikas. Adelaide, Australia: Department of Languages -- Modern Greek Flinders University, 2009. p. 39-46.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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N2 - Plato argued in various works that commercial life is psychologically corrupting. In his two works in which the ideal city is formulated — i.e. The Republic and The Laws — we find proposals for ensuring that the citizens are quarantined from such effects. I argue herein that although Plato’s world is very distinct from our own and his attitudes involve an extreme form of anti-commercialism, his thoughts on how money might corrode still have much to teach us. He describes how societies with large discrepancies in wealth fracture into classes and this undermines any communal solidarity and he considers how immersion in the world of money can corrupt our sense of what is morally appropriate. These lessons are as compelling today as they were in ancient Greece.

AB - Plato argued in various works that commercial life is psychologically corrupting. In his two works in which the ideal city is formulated — i.e. The Republic and The Laws — we find proposals for ensuring that the citizens are quarantined from such effects. I argue herein that although Plato’s world is very distinct from our own and his attitudes involve an extreme form of anti-commercialism, his thoughts on how money might corrode still have much to teach us. He describes how societies with large discrepancies in wealth fracture into classes and this undermines any communal solidarity and he considers how immersion in the world of money can corrupt our sense of what is morally appropriate. These lessons are as compelling today as they were in ancient Greece.

KW - History of Philosophy

UR - http://dspace.flinders.edu.au/dspace/handle/2328/8034

UR - http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/36660989

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SN - 9780725811341

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BT - Greek Research in Australia: Proceedings of The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies

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A2 - Couvalis, George

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A2 - Palaktsoglou, Maria

A2 - Tsianikas, Michael

PB - Department of Languages -- Modern Greek Flinders University

CY - Adelaide, Australia

T2 - Greek Research in Australia: The Seventh Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies

Y2 - 28 June 2007 through 1 July 2007

ER -

Plato on Money and Commercial Life

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