section_path: Property in philosophy/Ancient philosophy
section_name: Ancient philosophy
paragraph_text: Ancient philosophy
  
  Urukagina, the king of the Sumerian city-state Lagash, established the first laws that forbade compelling the sale of property.
  
  The Bible in Leviticus 19:11 and ibid. 19:13 states that the Israelites are not to steal.
  
  Aristotle, in Politics, advocates "private property." He argues that self-interest leads to neglect of the commons. "hat which is common to the greatest number has the least care bestowed upon it. Everyone thinks chiefly of his own, hardly at all of the common interest, and only when he is himself concerned as an individual."
  
  In addition, he says that when property is common, there are natural problems that arise due to differences in labor: "If they do not share equally enjoyments and toils, those who labor much and get little will necessarily complain of those who labor little and receive or consume much. But indeed, there is always a difficulty in men living together and having all human relations in common, but especially in their having common property." (Politics, 1261b34)
  
  Cicero held that there is no private property under natural law but only under human law. Seneca viewed property as only becoming necessary when men become avaricious. St. Ambrose later adopted this view and St. Augustine even derided heretics for complaining the Emperor could not confiscate property they had labored for.