Mises Institute
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Aristotle on Mixed Economies

English
Mises.org Publish Date: 
June 26, 2008 - 12:00 AM
Author 1: 
Isaac M. Morehouse [1]

Capitalism is the only system that allows for both of these. We should not stop advocating capitalism, nor should we stop caring about ourselves and others in peaceful, voluntary ways.

I find it no less disturbing when someone says both capitalism and socialism are extreme and they seek a middle ground than if someone were to say both love and cruelty were extreme, and they therefore seek a middle ground. Some vices or virtues are found in moderation; some are found in absoluteness. As Barry Goldwater famously said,

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! — Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

Capitalism is just. Socialism is unjust. There is no "messy middle."

Topics: 
Free Markets [2]
Austrian School: 
Other Schools of Thought [3]
Philosophy and Methodology [4]

Source URL: https://mises.org/library/aristotle-mixed-economies

Links
[1] https://mises.org/profile/isaac-m-morehouse
[2] https://mises.org/topics/free-markets
[3] https://mises.org/austrian-school/other-schools-thought
[4] https://mises.org/austrian-school/philosophy-and-methodology