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3.12: Private Property, Private Interests

  • Page ID
    94507
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    See 415d-417b. Socrates warns that if the auxiliaries and their leaders the guardians were to “acquire private land, houses, and currency” they would become “household managers and farmers instead of guardians – hostile masters of the other citizens, instead of their allies.” His thought is that private property would encourage private interests, interests independent from and potentially in conflict with those of the city as a whole. (Compare this to the idea behind celibacy for the Roman Catholic priesthood.) The guardians are to be concerned for the city’s welfare with minimal distractions, and without the temptation to use public power for private gain.

    • In what respect, and to what extent, does money corrupt politics?

    • Should modern politicians be required to renounce wealth?


    This page titled 3.12: Private Property, Private Interests is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Douglas Drabkin.

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