Philosophical Writings

Much of the basis on which consensual slavery operates has its foundations in Ancient Greece from around 600 BC up to the Roman conquest. In earlier postings scattered around this blog there are my research findings. I have collated some of the more important ones and set them below.

Ancient Greek Slavery

Philosophical Writings

Aristotle 384 - 323 BC wrote in The Politics about the nature of slaves or, if you like, the mentality of slaves. He made the following observations:-

(1) Slaves are the exclusive property of their masters. (2) People who are fulfilled by helping others are by nature - slaves.

(3) Owning natural slaves is just, whereas owning prisoner of war slaves is unjust in where natural slaves, as defined in (2) can adapt to a new master/owner, free peoples are enslaved against their natural inclination.

(4) Some people are dominant by nature and therefore it is natural for them to be free.
Some people are submissive by nature and therefore it is natural for them to be slaves. Such slaves find it advantageous to be slaves.

Aristotle, in his Constitution of Athens wrote:-
Solon abolished the debt slavery laws. No Attic citizen can be sold into or bought as a slave in Athens. Fellow citizens can not be enslaved. Slaves must be of foreign origin. However, a foreigner living in Attica can [enslaved himself] should the need arise. Likewise, non-Hellenics can be enslaved for crimes or to clear debt for a period not exceeding three years. Slaves who have become such as war booty remain slaves for life unless freed (manumitted) by their owners - or liberated by a foreign army.

Aristotle set out rules, some of which were adopted by the Law in Athens, in The Householder.

Time Limit. Slaves should be freed after a set number of years. This should usually be three years. This means that after three years have elapsed a slave ceases to be "property" but may continue to serve as a slave but be free to leave at any time. But their civil rights will be no more than that of other foreigners.

Food as Reward Food is the slave's reward for good service. Enough should be given to allow the slave to perform properly.

Other Rewards Good slaves can be rewarded in kind, e.g. better food or change of clothing. Not being chained or incarcerated night. The ultimate reward would be trust, allowing the slave to move freely.

Punishments Withdrawal of rewards as listed above but to starve a slave is not an option as it would debilitate the slave making him more bother than its worth. A slave can be humiliated should the need arise and a beating is in order. If the slave is recalcitrant he can always be sold on.

Demosthenes (384 - 322 BC) Defined newly freed slaves [as] .... A freed slave remains a slave in name as they are not Greek citizens. They are no longer the property of their owners but owe a "debt of service" and can only be totally free to leave a household if they offer one of their children as chattel-slave in their stead.

Xenophon (425 - 355 BC) wrote in his Memorabilia of a discourse between Socrates and Diodoros where it was concluded that slaves should be properly looked after as slaves are an investment.
But Plato said slaves should not be over-indulged (with kindness) but should be directed by command, - never request, - and the threat of punishment should be ever present.
However, Phoclydes a contemporary of Plato took the view that slaves should not live in constant fear but have some human rights but never forget that they are slaves. Phoclydes went on to set out a four part code of treatment:-
(1) To provide the slave with food owed for work done.

(2) To provide the slave rations and thereby gain his respect.

(3) Not to brand a slave without just reason. Branding a slave "because you can" is not a just reason.

(4) If the slave is wise, accept the advice offered.

Xenophon (425 - 355 BC) on the subject of punishment says:-
"Slaves can be chained, bound or otherwise confined, flogged and even tortured by their owners should justice require it but inflicting permanent marks such as branding and shaving the head may be done only in extreme cases such as when the slave persistently runs away or by decree of the law of the local Πολεις (Poleis - town council)"

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The Romans later codified all this and thus preserved it for future scholars of the subject. The Pax Romana was an early form of the European union (albeit as Empire) and like the modern EU had honed bureaucracy to a fine art, everything was written down. So many of the writings of the ancient Greeks were codified and enlarged ( and became Roman Law) by such as Seneca, Sextus, Aullis Gellus, Claudius and many, many more.

A good reference book to which much of these notes refer is "Greek and Roman Slavery" by Thomas Wiedmann. It outlines many sources which can be investigated further.