Abstract

In comparison to the modern conception of economics, ancient 􀈠􀩁􀈛􀈠􀈞􀈠􀈝􀈓􀄮, understood as the management of the household (including husband and wife, children, slaves, possessions and wealth), is supported by and integrated into the ethical-political system it refers to. By taking in consideration ps.-Aristotle’s Oeconomicus and the main features of the 􀈠􀩁􀈛􀈠􀈞􀈠􀈝􀈓􀄮 outlined therein, this article intends to carry out a critical comparison in particular with Book I of Aristotle’s Politics and with Philodemus’ Oeconomicus, in order to analyse the ethical-political views underlying these authors’ way of understanding household management. This will be done through historical-philosophical comparisons with other economic works from both the Classical and the Hellenistic age. The aim is to compare the different value systems implicit in the management of the 􀈠􀩇􀈛􀈠􀈢 and the ways of conceiving of the acquisition of wealth, which vary depending on the social, political and philosophical context