subsistence, is nearly the same, without ever thinking
to procure any provision by way of exchange or merchandise,
such are shepherds, husband-men, [1256b] robbers,
fishermen, and hunters: some join different employments
together, and thus live very agreeably; supplying
those deficiencies which were wanting to make their
subsistence depend upon themselves only: thus,
for instance, the same person shall be a shepherd
and a robber, or a husbandman and a hunter; and so
with respect to the rest, they pursue that mode of
life which necessity points out. This provision
then nature herself seems to have furnished all animals
with, as well immediately upon their first origin
as also when they are arrived at a state of maturity;
for at the first of these periods some of them are
provided in the womb with proper nourishment, which
continues till that which is born can get food for
itself, as is the case with worms and birds; and as
to those which bring forth their young alive, they
have the means for their subsistence for a certain
time within themselves, namely milk. It is evident
then that we may conclude of those things that are,
that plants are created for the sake of animals, and
animals for the sake of men; the tame for our use
and provision; the wild, at least the greater part,
for our provision also, or for some other advantageous
purpose, as furnishing us with clothes, and the like.
As nature therefore makes nothing either imperfect
or in vain, it necessarily follows that she has made
all these things for men: for which reason what
we gain in war is in a certain degree a natural acquisition;
for hunting is a part of it, which it is necessary
for us to employ against wild beasts; and those men
who being intended by nature for slavery are unwilling
to submit to it, on which occasion such a.
war is
by nature just: that species of acquisition then
only which is according to nature is part of economy;
and this ought to be at hand, or if not, immediately
procured, namely, what is necessary to be kept in
store to live upon, and which are useful as well for
the state as the family. And true riches seem
to consist in these; and the acquisition of those
possessions which are necessary for a happy life is
not infinite; though Solon says otherwise in this verse:
“No bounds to riches can be fixed
for man;”
for they may be fixed as in other arts; for the instruments
of no art whatsoever are infinite, either in their
number or their magnitude; but riches are a number
of instruments in domestic and civil economy; it is
therefore evident that the acquisition of certain things
according to nature is a part both of domestic and
civil economy, and for what reason.
CHAPTER IX
Copyrights
Politics: A Treatise on Government from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
