A Study On Aristotle's View Of Wealth And Its Ethical Implication

In the 40 years since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee,China’s economic and social development has experienced unprecedented rapid growth,and the people’s living standards have been greatly improved and their wealth accumulated.Compared to the pre-reform and opening up society,where poverty was widespread,material wealth is now the cornerstone of families in the era of "common prosperity".The influence of wealth on people’s perceptions and behaviour in everyday life is increasing,and people’s perceptions,attitudes and knowledge of wealth have changed radically.The explosive growth of material wealth in a short period of time has left most Chinese families with a lack of intergenerational wealth transmission,management and wealth concepts.The majority of Chinese families lack intergenerational wealth transmission,management and wealth concepts.In the new era when the Chinese nation is moving from "getting rich" to "getting strong",and at the new historical starting point of the "two centuries",it is important to retrace the ethical implications of Aristotle’s thought on wealth,and to provide contemporary Chinese families with the necessary tools to address the issue of how to view wealth rationally and to manage it rationally.In Aristotle’s case,the idea of wealth is the most important one.In Aristotle’s view,wealth is divided into two categories,wealth as the sum of useful things and wealth in the form of money.Wealth is a good that provides people with a material basis,but the illicit use of wealth can lead people to destruction,and there should be a limit to its use in order to prevent people from pursuing it excessively and weakening their sense of morality.Wealth originates in society and is divided into natural wealth and commercial wealth,with natural wealth being the cornerstone of the stability of the city-state.In addition,the role of wealth is reflected in its effect on the individual and on the city-state.The impact of wealth on the individual is reflected in the fact that wealth is an aid to people’s happiness,while the impact of wealth on the city-state is reflected in the fact that the amount of wealth influences the division of the polity,the aims of the governing body and the merits of the polity influence the happiness of the citizens of the city-state.In order to maintain the longevity of the city-state,the ruling class should not govern for the purpose of acquiring wealth,but for the common good of the citizens.Therefore,a republican polity,composed of a ruling class with moderate wealth,is the one that best meets the needs of the people.The process by which people distribute and use their wealth gives it an ethical connotation and gives it a good and evil character.From the point of view of the distribution of wealth,the ethical implication is embodied in justice and legality.At the level of the state,justice and lawfulness are reflected in the distribution of honour,wealth or other public resources on the basis of people’s contribution to the city-state;at the level of the individual,justice and lawfulness are reflected in the role of correction when unreasonable transactions are encountered between people.From the point of view of the use of wealth,Aristotle saw its ethical implication in the moderation of desires and the moderation of consumption.At the same time,people should use their wealth in a generous and virtuous manner.The relationship between wealth and happiness is not reciprocal;where wealth and virtue diverge,virtue brings wealth and happiness into unity.Aristotle’s view of wealth was an important influence on the development of the Western ethic of wealth,most influenced by Thomas Aquinas,whose view of wealth provided the theoretical support for his solution to the social problems arising from the church.At the present stage,China does not pay enough attention to cultivating a good view of wealth among its citizens,which has led to the prevalence of consumerism.Aristotle’s view of wealth is an important guide for us to establish a correct view of wealth.