Xenophons 'Oikonomikos' Vademecum zu einem Klassiker der Haushaltsökonomie

[Front Matter and Series Introduction]: This segment contains the title page and the series introduction for 'Klassiker der Nationalökonomie'. It outlines the editorial mission to republish significant economic texts from mercantilism to the early 20th century, emphasizing the tension between formal analysis and ideological orientation in the development of economic science. [Table of Contents and Publication Details]: Lists the contributing authors and their respective essays regarding Xenophon's 'Oikonomikos'. It includes publication credits, copyright information for the 1998 edition, and mentions the source of the archaeological illustrations provided by the Antikenmuseum Basel. [Xenophon's Oikonomikos: The Beginning of Which Economic Theory?]: Bertram Schefold explores the definition of 'Oikonomikos' as a classic of economics. He discusses the transition from ancient household management (Oikos) to modern national economy, the role of rationality in ancient thought, and how ancient concepts of state finance and market analysis (rooted in Aristotelian chrematistics) evolved into political economy. [The Primitivist vs. Modernist Debate in Ancient Economics]: Schefold addresses the scholarly debate between primitivist and modernist interpretations of ancient Greek economics. He examines Xenophon's work for evidence of both simple subsistence farming and more 'modern' entrepreneurial activities, such as land speculation and large-scale slave-based mining enterprises described in 'Poroi'. [The Cultural and Philosophical Context of Xenophon's Writing]: This section contextualizes Xenophon's economic advice within the broader Greek literary and philosophical tradition. It compares his depiction of rural life to Homer, Hesiod, and Horace, and discusses his relationship with Socrates, noting that Xenophon's Socrates is more of a practical advisor than Platon's metaphysical teacher. [Socratic Dialogues and the Character of Kritobulos]: Schefold analyzes the relationship between the 'Oikonomikos' and other Socratic works like the 'Memorabilia' and 'Symposion'. He discusses the 'Socratic problem' (the historical vs. literary Socrates) and the character of Kritobulos, who serves as the student learning to manage his inherited wealth through Socratic questioning. [Ischomachos and the 'Poroi' (Ways and Means)]: The segment introduces Ischomachos, the second dialogue partner in 'Oikonomikos', and shifts to an analysis of Xenophon's 'Poroi' (Ways and Means). It details Xenophon's proposals for Athenian economic recovery, including the exploitation of the Laurion silver mines, the treatment of foreign traders (metics), and the state's role in promoting prosperity through peace and trade. [Economic Spirit and the Ideal of the Polis Citizen]: Schefold contrasts the ancient Greek economic spirit with modern bourgeois ideals. He argues that the Athenian citizen's relationship to wealth and labor resembled that of the old nobility rather than the modern capitalist, focusing on public splendor and generosity rather than systematic accumulation. [Analysis of the 1734 Edition and the Definition of Wealth]: Schefold reviews the 1734 German translation by Brockes used in this edition. He begins a chapter-by-chapter summary of 'Oikonomikos', starting with the Socratic definition of 'house' (Oikos) as total property and the philosophical distinction between possession and utility (goods are only wealth if one knows how to use them). [Management, Virtue, and Social Obligations]: This segment covers the dialogue regarding the obstacles to successful management, such as lack of self-control and social pressures. It explains the 'liturgies' (public service obligations) that wealthy Athenians faced, which Brockes' translation humorously renders as 'giving balls'. [The Role of Women and the Persian Model of Agriculture]: Socrates discusses the division of labor between husband and wife and the importance of order. He uses the Persian King as a model for a ruler who values both military strength and agricultural productivity. The segment highlights the Greek view of agriculture as a noble pursuit for free men, unlike 'banausic' (manual) crafts. [Delegation, Supervision, and the Ethics of Labor]: Schefold examines Xenophon's views on delegating authority to overseers. He references Karl Marx's critique of ancient labor management and contrasts it with Xenophon's more nuanced approach, which emphasizes personal relationships, moral training for slaves, and the use of both material incentives and honor to ensure productivity. [Land Speculation and the Conclusion of Oikonomikos]: The summary of 'Oikonomikos' concludes with a surprising turn: Ischomachos reveals that his father made a fortune by buying poorly managed land, improving it, and selling it for a profit. Socrates identifies this as a merchant-like profit motive. The final chapter emphasizes that successful management ultimately depends on a 'divine' gift for leadership. [Post-Xenophontic Ancient Economic Literature]: Schefold surveys other ancient works on household management, including the Pseudo-Aristotelian 'Oeconomica' and Philodemus' Epicurean take on the subject. He notes the first use of the term 'political economy' and highlights Philodemus' preference for a rentier lifestyle that minimizes labor to allow for philosophical pursuit. [The Legacy of Ancient Economics and Modern Theory]: The final section of Schefold's essay discusses the 'loss of the old economics' (as described by Erich Egner) and the modern separation of production and consumption. He argues that ancient household theory remains relevant for understanding the quality of life and the ethical dimensions of economic needs. [Appendix: Textual Comparison and Epigrams on Xenophon]: An appendix providing a visual comparison of Greek scripts between the 1734 and modern editions. It is followed by a collection of epigrams and quotes from various scholars (Krohn, Nickel, Higgins) evaluating Xenophon's personality as a man of action, a soldier, and a writer who bridged the 5th century and the Hellenistic era. [Scholarly Perspectives on Xenophon's Economic Contributions]: A compilation of scholarly excerpts discussing Xenophon's specific economic insights, including his analysis of the value of money, the division of labor, and his practical administrative focus. Authors like Pomeroy and Schütrumpf highlight how Xenophon's interest in the 'Oikos' served the stability of the 'Polis'. [Xenophon's Method and Selected Excerpts]: This segment discusses Xenophon's methodology—often seen as practical rather than theoretical—and provides translated excerpts from his works 'Ways and Means', 'Memorabilia', and 'Symposion'. These excerpts cover topics such as the benefits of peace for trade, the value of silver, and Socratic debates on the ethics of charging for wisdom. [Excerpts from Gastmahl, Hiero, and Agesilaus]: Final excerpts from Xenophon's minor works. They include the famous anecdote about Socrates and his wife Xanthippe, advice to the tyrant Hiero on winning the love of his citizens through benevolence, and a praise of King Agesilaus' self-discipline and immunity to the corrupting influence of money. [Images of Xenophon's 'Book of Household Management']: Karl Schefold provides an archaeological and biographical overview of Xenophon's life. He discusses Xenophon's aristocratic Athenian roots, his service in the cavalry, his exile in Scillus, and his return to Athens. The text is accompanied by descriptions of Greek sculptures and pottery that illustrate the social and philosophical environment of the 4th century BC. [Descriptions of Archaeological Plates (1-10)]: Detailed descriptions of ten archaeological plates. These include grave reliefs, portraits of Plato and Socrates, and scenes from daily life such as women at a fountain, an olive harvest, a bronze foundry, and Penelope at her loom. The commentary emphasizes that Greek art sought to reveal higher meanings within everyday activities. [Xenophon's Economic Thought Beyond 'Oikonomikos']: S. Todd Lowry argues that Xenophon's economic contributions extend far beyond simple household management into the realm of administrative efficiency and management science. He identifies early forms of cost-benefit analysis and marginalist thinking in Xenophon's 'Symposion' and 'Memorabilia', particularly regarding the organization of labor and capital. [Productive Labor, Credit, and the Silver Mines of Laurium]: Lowry analyzes Xenophon's understanding of credit as a means to initiate production (the Aristarchus case) and his sophisticated observations on the silver market in 'Poroi'. Xenophon is credited with recognizing that silver does not suffer from diminishing marginal utility like other goods and for understanding the need for a proportional 'factor-mix' in production. [Macroeconomics and Political Incentives]: Lowry examines Xenophon's 'macroeconomic' views in 'Hieron' and 'Poroi'. He discusses the use of prizes and honors to stimulate agricultural competition and technological innovation, noting that Xenophon understood how subjective needs determine value and how state-organized incentives can drive general prosperity. [Division of Labor and the Influence on Adam Smith]: Lowry highlights Xenophon's description of the division of labor in 'Cyropaedia', suggesting it may have influenced Adam Smith's famous 'pin factory' example. He also discusses the Socratic principle of voluntary exchange as the basis for justice in trade, a concept that became foundational for Roman contract law. [Philosophical Foundations of Ancient Economic Theory]: Arbogast Schmitt examines the philosophical underpinnings of ancient economics. He argues that Xenophon's 'Oikonomikos' is not a technical manual but a treatise on 'Kalokagathia' (moral perfection) as a prerequisite for economic success. He contrasts the ancient view of economy as part of ethics with the modern view of economy as an autonomous, value-free science. [Ancient vs. Modern Economic Epistemology]: Schmitt explores the intellectual rift between Aristotelian economics and modern theory. He discusses how modern economics, from Hobbes to Max Weber, defined itself in opposition to ancient metaphysics. He notes that while modern theory views the market as a natural, self-regulating process, Aristotle viewed it as a potential development that must be subordinated to social and ethical goals. [The Anti-Aristotelian Premises of Modern Economic Theory]: This segment outlines five anti-Aristotelian premises identified by Scott Meikle that define modern economic theory, including the denial of natural value, the rejection of metaphysical norms, and the separation of reason from ethics. It argues that modern science views interest in Aristotelian unity as nostalgic unless the rational foundations of those connections can be proven. [Epistemological Foundations: Modern Empiricism vs. Aristotelian Substance]: A deep dive into the epistemological shift from Aristotelian 'nature of things' to modern nominalism and the 'making' of knowledge. The author contrasts the Aristotelian distinction between what is 'prior for us' (empirical data) and 'prior by nature' (rational criteria) with the modern collapse of these categories starting with Descartes. It critiques the empiricist assumption of 'pure' sensory data, citing physiological and psychological evidence that all perception is subjective construction. [Platonic and Aristotelian Epistemology: The Principle of Contradiction]: This section explores the Platonic and Aristotelian defense of identity as an axiomatic requirement of thought rather than an empirical observation. It discusses the 'principle of contradiction' not as a formal void, but as a system of truth criteria. The author contrasts Plato's 'hypothesis' of determinacy with the Cartesian doubt, arguing that identity is a criterion the mind brings to experience to make it intelligible. [The Mathematical Science: From Plato's Monas to Modern Algebra]: The author traces the transformation of 'Mathesis Universalis' from a Platonic system of rational criteria (Arithmetics, Geometry, Music, Astronomy) to a modern formal calculus. It highlights Jakob Klein's research on how the concept of 'Monas' (unit) was transformed into a symbolic representation of counting acts. The segment argues that modern science's 'mathematization of the world' is actually more metaphysical than Plato's theory, as it assumes the world is inherently structured by quantity. [The Nature of Man and Economic Action in Aristotle]: This section contrasts Adam Smith's 'Invisible Hand' and the drive for self-preservation with the Aristotelian view of human nature based on the capacity for rational differentiation. Aristotle views economic action as embedded in a system of ethical and political values. The author explains that for Aristotle, rationality is not a detached consciousness but is inherently accompanied by pleasure (Lust) and pain (Unlust), where the highest pleasure comes from the perfection of human-specific activities. [Needs, Justice, and the Critique of Market-Driven Desire]: The author discusses the Aristotelian distinction between 'needs' (objective/rational) and 'wishes/desires' (subjective/sensory). It critiques modern utilitarianism (Hobbes, Bentham) for making desire the measure of value. In the Aristotelian state, economy is regulated by distributive and commutative justice to satisfy true needs, whereas a money-centric market levels all activities toward 'profit maximization,' leading to a loss of freedom and the tyranny of sensory desires. [Xenophon's Oikonomikos: Household Management as Science]: A rehabilitation of Xenophon's 'Oikonomikos' as a scientific work. The author argues that Xenophon follows Socratic ideals, viewing household management as a science aimed at prosperity through the 'beautiful' and moral behavior of all members. It highlights Xenophon's specific views on the equal but differentiated roles of men and women and his psychological insights into leadership and nature. [Biographical Data and Bibliography of Xenophon]: Biographical timeline of Xenophon's life (c. 430–354 BC), including his service under Cyrus the Younger and his exile in Scillus. It provides a list of his major works (Anabasis, Memorabilia, Cyropaedia, etc.) and a selected bibliography of secondary literature and modern editions. [Chronology of Economic and Philosophical Thinkers]: A comprehensive chronological table tracing the genealogy of national economics from Socrates and Xenophon through the Middle Ages (Avicenna, Thomas Aquinas, Oresme), the Renaissance (Machiavelli, Luther, Copernicus), and into the Enlightenment and Classical periods (Petty, Locke, Hume, Smith, Ricardo). [About the Authors]: Biographical sketches of the contributors to the volume: S. Todd Lowry (economic historian), Bertram Schefold (economist and editor), Karl Scheffold (archaeologist), and Arbogast Schmitt (classical philologist and philosopher).