The latter treats the accumulation of money (αὔξησις) as a means, while the former treats it as the supreme end of life.754 In fine, then, Aristotle teaches that necessary chrematistik has to do with the supply and use of life’s necessities, is natural (κατὰ φύσιν or οἰκειοτάτη) and limited,755 its prime function being the proper disposal of products.756 It is an honorable pursuit,757 dependent chiefly upon fruits and animals,758 and involves a practical knowledge of stock (κτηνή), farming, bee-culture, trees, fish, and fowl.759 The false finance, on the other hand, is unnatural, dishonorable, and enriches at the expense of another.760 Its chief business is commerce (ἐμπορία), including sea-trade (ναυκληρία), inland trade (φορτηγία), and shop-trade, (παράστασις).761 It also comprises usury (τοκισμός) and hired labor, both skilled and unskilled (μισθαρνία ἡ μὲν τῶν βαναύσων τέχνων ἡ δὲ ἀτεχνῶν).762
Aristotle also distinguishes a third type of finance (χρηματιστική) which shares in the nature of both those above described. It deals with natural resources and their products, but with things which, though useful, are not fruits (ἀκάρπιμα), such as wood-cutting (ὑλοτομία) and mining in all its branches (μεταλλευτική).763 The meaning may be best apprehended if, with Ashley,764 we observe that οἰκονομική is characterized, not only by direct acquisition of nature’s products, but also by a personal use of the same, while the unnatural finance has neither of these qualities. The medium kind, then, is like the former, in that it involves direct acquisition of natural resources, but like the latter, in that it does not acquire for directly personal use, but for exchange. It consists, therefore, not so much in the arts themselves, as in the exchange that is based on them.
In the discussion of the so-called false finance, Aristotle thus reveals a markedly hostile attitude to any extensive development of exchange. The middleman is considered to be a parasite and necessarily degenerate by the very fact of his business.765 As seen above, his criticism was doubtless directed chiefly against the mean and dishonest spirit in the actual retail