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Chapter VI Aristotle

is mean (φαῦλος) and has no business with virtue.611 The citizen youth should be taught none of the illiberal pursuits of the tradesmen.612 No citizen should enter into industrial labor or retail trade, since they are ignoble (ἀγεννής) and hostile to virtue.613

Even all the agricultural work must be performed by slaves, that the citizens may have leisure for personal development and for service to the state.614

In addition to his other objections to retail trade and the arts, Aristotle considers them to be naturally unjust, since they take something from him with whom they deal.615

Indeed, the productive classes have but slight recognition in his ideal state. They seem to be tolerated only as a necessary evil, and are in a state of limited slavery ἀφωρισμένην τινὰ δουλείαν. Virtue is even less possible for them than for slaves, and they lead a less tolerable life.616 All hired labor belongs to the category

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