A History of Greek Economic Thought

by Albert Augustus Trever

"A History of Greek Economic Thought" by Albert Augustus Trever is a scholarly dissertation composed in the early 20th century. This work explores the evolution of economic theories as conceptualized by ancient Greek philosophers, placing their ideas within the context of both their time and the present humanitarian economic discourse. The book aims to not just chronicle, but also reinterpret Greek economic thought, connecting ancient ideas with modern economic principles. The opening of the work sets forth the author's intention to fulfill a scholarly gap in the discourse of Greek economic theory. It discusses the existing literature on the subject, noting that previous works often failed to approach the topic from the perspective of a classicist infused with a modern economic view. Trever emphasizes that the Greeks, despite their simpler economic environment, fostered significant ethical and humanistic considerations in their economic theories that resonate with contemporary thought. By establishing a chronological format, he intends to analyze the ideas of prominent Greek thinkers, such as Plato and Aristotle, in relation to the economic conditions of their epoch.