Socialism and International Economic Order by Elisabeth L. Tamedly

Author:Elisabeth L. Tamedly [Elisabeth L. Tamedly]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 978-1-61016-044-5
Publisher: The Caxton Printers, Ltd.
Published: 1969-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

THE PLACE OF FOREIGN TRADE IN IDEAL COMMONWEALTHS

Plato

Foreign trade is clearly recognized by Plato as an agent working for a general increase in productivity and welfare. Yet, international exchange is to be minimized or even abolished, at least as far as goods for use by individuals are concerned. It is left entirely to the authorities’ discretion to decide which imports are “necessary” and which are not, no consideration being given to the citizens’ wishes or traditional religious customs.1

Quite another matter is the importing of commodities that are required by the State for military purposes: here, the Law-wardens are free to purchase whatever is needed and pay for the acquired goods with exports. Since the State is “all productive,” its authorities will have a sufficient range of commodities at their disposal with which to satisfy the claims of foreign exporters. The question of the real costs involved in such transactions, costs which are ultimately borne by the population, could not concern a man whose major preoccupation was to free human hearts from the lust of wealth. On the contrary, every measure restricting economic welfare was openly welcomed by him as a means of furthering his moral end. One could characterize Plato’s leading maxim with the phrase: to have less of a thing is better than to have more of it. This principle, however, applies only to the individual; the State must retain absolute freedom to abundantly provide for its needs which serve to strengthen its internal and external position.

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