The Economist

by Xenophon

"The Economist" by Xenophon is a Socratic dialogue written around 362 BC. It explores household management and agriculture through conversations between Socrates and two Athenians. The work examines what constitutes true wealth, the art of managing property and slaves, and the education of wives. Through the gentleman-farmer Ischomachus, Xenophon presents ideas about gender roles, rural life, and leadership that have sparked debate among scholars—some viewing the text as patriarchal, others seeing proto-feminist elements, and many detecting layers of irony throughout.