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Aristotle discovers economy, to fear it. a reading through the eyes of Karl Polanyi

Abstract:

This study approaches Aristotelian refl ections on economy through the eyes of Karl Polanyi, as he resorts to the Greek philosopher to fi nd useful elements when building a profound criticism of the modern market society. Aristotle intuited the uncertain future of a social order devoured by economic relations expanding at a hypertrophic rate. In his time, indeed, this was only a potential threat-he never saw the effective culmination of anything like what we are seeing today-. But he was nevertheless able to see the ultimate meaning of what was at stake, and to understand that the unmeasured, uncontrolled growth of market relations would irremediably affect the civic balance. He understood that the unrestricted extension of the desire for profi t to all human ties would be a powerful threat to the heart of the political community. D. R.