Households

When the natural order is followed concerning authority, it makes a beneficial environment for all the parties involved. A CEO with good character will run a company justly by making the company grow, increasing stock value and taking care of the workers. Some people are great at hands-on things and others do well as supervisors to set priorities. When laws or other entitlements disrupt the natural order between workers and supervisors, both sides suffer. Of course there are varying degrees of talents and abilities so this isn't an exact science.

When we look at a household, it is more of a monarchy where regardless of the skills involved, there is usually one or two people that have the final say in all decisions. Talent isn't really an issue but the authority is important. We don't consider keeping a household difficult but there are habits that can be taught to make it easier on everyone. No one goes to college to be an expert housekeeper. Yet it is the place that holds the things we love. It is curious that so much study is put into everything else while managing a household is an afterthought.

When we talk about the the pursuit of happiness, wealth is a big part of it. But at the same time we despise those who are out to get wealth. In order to look at wealth in its proper context, separations have to be made. At what point does earnings made for taking care of one's own household turn into wealth? The purpose of accumulation would be a factor. Some things are tools and then others are materials. Both are used to make something else. First priority would be our household. But it isn't that simple.

Animals have simple needs and we see them gather food and build homes in order to perpetuate their species. But humans are different. They do things according to taste and have different levels of satisfaction. We all have particular talents and interests that we try to use to make a living. The amount of property and raw materials needed to make a living varies with what a person does. To Aristotle, everything exists for a purpose; soil for the nourishment of plants; plants for the nourishment of animals. The entire world exists for man to use due to his versatility and intellect. We call it the top of the food chain. In the political sense, he believed that we are doing our duty to civilize barbaric people so they too can enjoy the benefits that come through being governed properly and cooperating with outsiders.

As we acquire things, how much is enough to consider oneself rich? There is only so much a person can experience and enjoy and so it would have to be limited. In the same way a civil government should be limited to providing opportunity for its citizens to make a good living. When we get into wealth, it is another matter and it has to be addressed separately.