Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Aristotle and Poverty

"Poverty is the parent of revolution and crime." - Aristotle

Poverty is relative, is it not? When the average American complains of being "poor" it is difficult to feel sympathic. Here poverty likely means that he or she can't afford the latest technological device or designer clothes. Or it may mean he or she is deeply in debt. Rarely would such a statement be taken to refer to poverty in the things of God.

Aristotle was a great observer. Surely he observed that many who are poor remain decent citizens. Most do not revolt and do not commit crimes. Indeed many who are poor in the things of this world are rich in the things of God. In our society we make too little of this fact.

2 comments:

George Patsourakos said...

Unfortunately, today man is more concerned with gold than with God.

Steve said...

Unfortunately most of the gold holders are religious. They try to use their religion to distort the minds of the poor. The poor are the most religious people in the world. Its easy to think of a better life beyond this one. It make people fight less about their oppression; to just accept it in light of a better place beyond. Truth is what is important for our species to survive. Focusing your education on god does not make the world a better place it only takes time away from you that could have been used to learn reality relevant information. Your focuses in life cannot be aimed to your death."Our actions in life do not affect our afterlife. Our actions in life affect the lives of those after us."