第13章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A History of Political Economy",免费读到尾

  Treating,inthefirstpart,oftheinfluenceofexternalconditions,ofrace,andofcultureonlibertyinthiswidersense,he

  proceedstodivideallproductiveeffortintotwogreatclasses,accordingastheactionisexercisedonthingsoronmen,and

  censurestheeconomistsforhavingrestrictedtheirattentiontotheformer。Hestudiesinhissecondandthirdparts

  respectivelytheconditionsoftheefficiencyofthesetwoformsofhumanexertion。Intreatingofeconomiclife,strictlyso

  called,heintroduceshisfourfolddivisionofmaterialindustry,inpartadoptedbyJ。S。Mill,as\"(1)extractive,(2)voiturière,

  (3)manufacturièure,(4)agricole,\"adivisionwhichisusefulforphysicaleconomics,butwillalways,whenthelargersocial

  aspectofthingsisconsidered,beinferiortothemorecommonlyacceptedoneintoagricultural,manufacturing,and

  commercialindustry,bankingbeingsupposedascommonpresidentandregulator。Dunoyer,havinginviewonlyactionon

  materialobjects,relegatesbanking,aswellascommerceproper,totheseparateheadofexchange,which,alongwith

  associationandgratuitoustransmission(whetherintervivosormortiscausa),heclassesapartasbeing,notindustries,inthe

  samesensewiththeoccupationsnamed,butyetfunctionsessentialtothesocialeconomy。Theindustrieswhichactonman

  hedividesaccordingastheyoccupythemselveswith(1)theameliorationofourphysicalnature,(2)thecultureofour

  imaginationandsentiments,(3)theeducationofourintelligence,and(4)theimprovementofourmoralhabits;andhe

  proceedsaccordinglytostudythesocialofficesofthephysician,theartist,theeducator,andthepriest。WemeetinDunoyer

  theideasafterwardsemphasisedbyBastiatthattherealsubjectsofhumanexchangeareservices;thatallvalueisdueto

  humanactivity;thatthepowersofnaturealwaysrenderagratuitousassistancetothelabourofmanandthattherentofland

  isreallyaformofinterestoninvestedcapital。Thoughhehaddisclaimedthetaskofapracticaladviserintheoften—quoted

  sentence\"Jen’imposerien;jeneproposemêmerien;j’exposé,\"hefindshimself,likealleconomists,unabletoabstainfrom

  offeringcounsel。Andhispolicyisopposedtoanystateinterferencewithindustry。Indeedhepreachesinitsextremerigour

  thelaisserfairedoctrine,whichhemaintainsprincipallyonthegroundthatthespontaneouseffortsoftheindividualforthe

  improvementofhiscondition,bydevelopingforesight,energy,andperseverance,arethemostefficientmeansofsocial

  culture。ButhecertainlygoestoofarwhenherepresentstheactionofGovernmentsasnormallyalwaysrepressiveandnever

  directive。Hewasdoubtlessledintothisexaggerationbyhisoppositiontotheartificialorganizationsoflabourproposedby

  somanyofhiscontemporaries,againstwhichhehadtovindicatetheprincipleofcompetition;buthiscriticismofthese

  schemestook,asComteremarks,tooabsoluteacharacter,tendingtotheperpetualinterdictionofatruesystematisationof

  industry。(64)

  AMERICA

  AtthispointitwillbeconvenienttoturnasideandnoticethedoctrinesoftheAmericaneconomistCarey。Notmuchhad

  beendonebeforehiminthesciencebycitizensoftheUnitedStates。BenjaminFranklin,otherwiseofworld—widerenown,

  wasauthorofanumberoftracts,inmostofwhichhemerelyenforcespracticallessonsofindustryandthrift,butinsome

  throwsoutinterestingtheoreticideas。Thus,fiftyyearsbeforeSmith,hesuggested(asPetty,however,hadalreadydone)

  humanlabourasthetruemeasureofvalue(ModestInquiryintotheNatureandNecessityofaPaperCurrency,1721),and

  inhisObservationsconcerningtheIncreaseofMankind(1751)heexpressesviewsakintothoseofMalthus。Alexander

  Hamilton,secretaryofthetreasury,in1791presentedinhisofficialcapacitytotheHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnited

  StatesaReportonthemeasuresbywhichhomemanufacturescouldbepromoted。(65)Inthisdocumenthegivesacritical

  accountofthetheoryofthesubject,representsSmith’ssystemoffreetradeaspossibleinpracticeonlyifadoptedbyall

  nationssimultaneously,ascribestomanufacturesagreaterproductivenessthantoagriculture,andseekstorefutethe

  objectionsagainstthedevelopmentoftheformerinAmericafoundedonthewantofcapital,thehighrateofwages,andthe

  lowpriceofland。TheconclusionatwhichhearrivesisthatforthecreationofAmericanmanufacturesasystemofmoderate

  protectivedutieswasnecessary,andheproceedstodescribetheparticularfeaturesofsuchasystem。Thereissomereason

  tobelievethattheGermaneconomistList,ofwhomweshallspeakhereafter,wasinfluencedbyHamilton’swork,having,

  duringhisexilefromhisnativecountry,residedintheUnitedStates。

  HenryCharlesCarey(17931879),sonofanAmericancitizenwhohademigratedfromIreland,representsareaction

  againstthedispiritingcharacterwhichtheSmithiandoctrineshadassumedinthehandsofMalthusandRicardo。Hisaim

  was,whilstadheringtotheindividualisticeconomy,toplaceitonahigherandsurerbasis,andfortifyitagainsttheassaults

  ofsocialism,towhichsomeoftheRicardiantenetshadexposedit。Themostcomprehensiveaswellasmatureexpositionof

  hisviewsiscontainedinhisPrinciplesofSocialScience(1859)。Inspiredwiththeoptimisticsentimentnaturaltoayoung

  andrisingnationwithabundantundevelopedresourcesandanunboundedoutlooktowardsthefuture,heseekstoshowthat

  thereexists,independentlyofhumanwills,anaturalsystemofeconomiclaws,whichisessentiallybeneficent,andofwhich

  theincreasingprosperityofthewholecommunity,andespeciallyoftheworkingclasses,isthespontaneousresult,capable

  ofbeingdefeatedonlybytheignoranceorperversityofmanresistingorimpedingitsaction。HerejectstheMalthusian

  doctrineofpopulation,maintainingthatnumbersregulatethem—selvessufficientlyineverywell—governedsociety,andthat

  theirpressureonsubsistencecharacterisesthelower,notthemoreadvanced,stagesofcivilization。Herightlydeniesthe

  universaltruth,forallstagesofcultivation,ofthelawofdiminishingreturnsfromland。Hisfundamentaltheoreticposition

  relatestotheantithesisofwealthandvalue。

  Wealthhadbeenbymosteconomistsconfoundedwiththesumofexchangevalues;evenSmith,thoughatfirst

  distinguishingthem,afterwardsallowedhimselftofallintothiserror。Ricardohad,indeed,pointedoutthedifference,but

  onlytowardstheendofhistreatise,inthebodyofwhichvaluealoneisconsidered。ThelaterEnglisheconomistshadtended

  toregardtheirstudiesasconversantonlywithexchange;sofarhadthisproceededthatWhatelyhadproposedforthe

  sciencethenameofCatallactics。Whenwealthisconsideredaswhatitreallyis,thesumofusefulproducts,weseethatit

  hasitsorigininexternalnatureassupplyingbothmaterialsandphysicalforces,andinhumanlabourasappropriatingand

  adaptingthosenaturalmaterialsandforces。Naturegivesherassistancegratuitously;labouristhesolefoundationofvalue。

  Thelesswecanappropriateandemploynaturalforcesinanyproductionthehigherthevalueoftheproduct,butthelessthe

  additiontoourwealthinproportiontothelabourexpended。Wealth,initstruesenseofthesumofusefulthings,isthe

  measureofthepowerwehaveacquiredovernature,whilstthevalueofanobjectexpressestheresistanceofnaturewhich

  labourhastoovercomeinordertoproducetheobject。Wealthsteadilyincreasesinthecourseofsocialprogress;the

  exchangevalueofobjects,ontheotherhand,decreases。Humanintellectandfacultyofsocialcombinationsecureincreased

  commandovernaturalpowers,andusethemmorelargelyinproduction,whilstlesslabourisspentinachievingeachresult,

  andthevalueoftheproductaccordinglyfalls。ThevalueofthearticleisnotfixedbyitsCostofproductioninthepast;what

  reallydeterminesitisthecostwhichisnecessaryforitsreproductionunderthepresentconditionsofknowledgeandskill。

  Thedependenceofvalueoncost,sointerpreted,Careyholdstobeuniversallytrue;whilstRicardomaintaineditonlywith

  respecttoobjectscapableofindefinitemultiplication,andinparticulardidnotregarditasapplicabletothecaseofland。

  Ricardosawintheproductivepowersoflandafreegiftofnaturewhichhadbeenmonopolisedbyacertainnumberof

  persons,andwhichbecame,withtheincreaseddemandforfood,alargerandlargervalueinthehandsofitspossessors。To

  thisvalue,however,asnotbeingtheresultoflabour,theowner,itmightbemaintained,hadnorightfulclaim;hecouldnot

  justlydemandapaymentforwhatwasdonebythe\"originalandindestructiblepowersofthesoil。\"ButCareyheldthatland,

  asweareconcernedwithitinindustriallife,isreallyaninstrumentofproductionwhichhasbeenformedassuchbyman,

  andthatitsvalueisduetothelabourexpendedonitinthepast,thoughmeasured,notbythesumofthatlabour,butbythe

  labournecessaryunderexistingconditionstobringnewlandtothesamestageofproductiveness。Hestudiestheoccupation

  andreclamationoflandwithpeculiaradvantageasanAmerican,forwhomthetraditionsoffirstsettlementarelivingand

  fresh,andbeforewhoseeyestheprocessisindeedstillgoingon。Thedifficultiesofadaptingaprimitivesoiltotheworkof

  yieldingorganicproductsforman’susecanbelightlyestimatedonlybyaninhabitantofacountrylongundercultivation。It

  is,inCarey’sview,theovercomingofthesedifficultiesbyarduousandcontinuedeffortthatentitlesthefirstoccupierofland

  tohispropertyinthesoil。Itspresentvalueformsaverysmallproportionofthecostexpendedonit,becauseitrepresents

  onlywhatwouldberequired,withthescienceandappliancesofourtime,tobringthelandfromitsprimitiveintoitspresent

  state。Propertyinlandisthereforeonlyaformofinvestedcapitalaquantityoflabourorthefruitsoflabourpermanently

  incorporatedwiththesoil;forwhich,likeanyothercapitalist,theowneriscompensatedbyashareoftheproduce。Heisnot

  rewardedforwhatisdonebythepowersofnature,andsocietyisinnosensedefraudedbyhissolepossession。The

  so—calledRicardiantheoryofrentisaspeculativefancy,contradictedbyallexperience。Cultivationdoesnotinfact,asthat

  theorysupposes,beginwiththebest,andmovedownwardstothepoorersoilsintheorderoftheirinferiority。(66)Thelight

  anddryhigherlandsarefirstcultivated;andonlywhenpopulationhasbecomedenseandcapitalhasaccumulated,arethe

  low—lyinglands,withtheirgreaterfertility,butalsowiththeirmorasses,inundations,andmiasmas,attackedandbrought

  intooccupation。Rent,regardedasaproportionoftheproduce,sinks,likeallinterestoncapital,inprocessoftime,but,as

  anabsoluteamount,increases。Theshareofthelabourerincreases,bothasaproportionandanabsoluteamount。Andthus

  theinterestofthesedifferentsocialclassesareinharmony。

  But,Careyproceedstosay,inorderthatthisharmoniousprogressmayberealised,whatistakenfromthelandmustbe

  givenbacktoit。Allthearticlesderivedfromitarereallyseparatedpartsofit,whichmustberestoredonpainofits

  exhaustion。Hencetheproducerandtheconsumermustbeclosetoeachother;theproductsmustnotbeexportedtoa

  foreigncountryinexchangeforitsmanufactures,andthusgotoenrichasmanureaforeignsoil。Inimmediateexchange

  valuethelandownermaygainbysuchexportation,buttheproductivepowersofthelandwillsuffer。AndthusCarey,who

  hadsetoutasanearnestadvocateoffreetrade,arrivesatthedoctrineofprotection:the\"co—ordinatingpower\"insociety

  mustintervenetopreventprivateadvantagefromworkingpublicmischief。(67)Heattributeshisconversiononthequestionto

  hisobservationoftheeffectsofliberalandprotectivetariffsrespectivelyonAmericanprosperity。Thisobservation,hesays,

  threwhimbackontheory,andledhimtoseethattheinterventionreferredtomightbenecessarytoremove(ashephrases

  it)theobstaclestotheprogressofyoungercommunitiescreatedbytheactionofolderandwealthiernations。Butitseems

  probablethattheinfluenceofList’swritings,addedtohisowndeep—rootedandhereditaryjealousyanddislikeofEnglish

  predominance,hadsomethingtodowithhischangeofattitude。

  Thepracticalconclusionatwhichhethusarrived,thoughitisbynomeansincontradictiontothedoctrineoftheexistence

  ofnaturaleconomiclaws,accordsbutillwithhisoptimisticscheme;andanothereconomist,FredericBastiat,acceptinghis

  fundamentalideas,appliedhimselftoremovetheforeignaccretion,asheregardedit,andtopreachthetheoryof

  spontaneoussocialharmoniesinrelationwiththepracticeoffreetradeasitslegitimateoutcome。(68)FRANCE(continued)

  Bastiat(1801—1850),thoughnotaprofoundthinker,wasabrilliantandpopularwriteroneconomicquestions。Thoughhe

  alwayshadaninclinationforsuchstudies,hewasfirstimpelledtotheactivepropagationofhisviewsbyhisearnest

  sympathywiththeEnglishanti—corn—lawagitation。Naturallyofanardenttemperament,hethrewhimselfwithzealintothe

  free—tradecontroversy,throughwhichhehopedtoinfluenceFrencheconomicpolicy,andpublishedin1845ahistoryofthe

  struggleunderthetitleofCobdenetLaLigue。In184548appearedhisSophismeséconomiques(Eng。trans。byG。R。

  Porter,1849,andbyP。J。Stirling,1873),inwhichheexhibitedhisbestqualitiesofmind。ThoughCairnesgoestoofarin

  comparingthisworkwiththeLettresProvinciales,itiscertainlymarkedbymuchliveliness,point,andvigour。Butto

  exposetheabsurditiesoftheordinaryprotectionismwasnodifficulttask;itisonlyinsuchaformasthepolicyassumedin

  theschemeofList,aspurelyprovisionalandpreparatory,thatitdeservesanddemandsconsideration。Aftertherevolution

  of1848,whichforatimeputanendtothefree—trademovementinFrance,theeffortsofBastiatweredirectedagainstthe

  socialists。BesidesseveralminorpiecespossessingthesamesortofmeritastheSophismes,heproduced,withaviewtothis

  controversy,hismostambitiousaswellascharacteristicwork,theHarmoniesÉconomiques(Eng。trans。byP。J。Stirling,

  1860)。Onlythefirstvolumewaspublished;itappearedin1850,anditsauthordiedinthesameyear。Sincethenthenotes

  andsketcheswhichhehadpreparedsmaterialstowardstheproductionofthesecondvolumehavebeengiventothepublic

  inthecollectededitionofhiswritings(byPaillottet,withLifebyFontenay,7vols。),andwecanthusgatherwhatwould

  havebeenthespiritandsubstanceofthelaterportionsofthebook。

  Itwillalwaysbehistoricallyinterestingasthelastincarnationofthoroughgoingeconomicoptimism。Thisoptimism,

  recurringtoitsfirstorigin,setsoutfromtheologicalconsiderations,andBastiatiscommendedbyhisEnglishtranslatorfor

  treatingpoliticaleconomy\"inconnectionwithfinalcauses。\"Thespiritoftheworkistorepresent\"allprinciples,allmotives,

  allspringsofaction,allinterests,asco—operatingtowardsagrandfinalresultwhichhumanitywillneverreach,buttowhich

  itwillalwaysincreasinglytend,namely,theindefiniteapproximationofallclassestowardsalevel,whichsteadilyrises,in

  otherwords,theequalisationofindividualsinthegeneralamelioration。\"

  Whatclaimedtobenovelandpeculiarinhisschemewasprincipallyhistheoryofvalue。Insistingontheideathatvaluedoes

  notdenoteanythinginherentintheobjectstowhichitisattributed,heendeavouredtoshowthatitneversignifiesanything

  buttheratiooftwo\"services。’’Thisviewhedevelopswithgreatvarietyandfelicityofillustration。Onlythemutualservices

  ofhumanbeings,accordingtohim,possess—valueandcanclaimaretribution;theassistancegivenbynaturetotheworkof

  productionisalwayspurelygratuitous,andneverentersintoprice。Economicprogress,as,forexample,theimprovement

  andlargeruseofmachinery,tendsperpetuallytotransfermoreandmoreoftheelementsofutilityfromthedomainof

  property,andthereforeofvalue,intothatofcommunity,orofuniversalandunpurchasedenjoyment。Itwillbeobservedthat

  thistheoryissubstantiallyidenticalwithCarey’s,whichhadbeenearlierpropounded;andthelatterauthorinsomanywords

  allegesittohavebeentakenfromhimwithoutacknowledgment。Ithasnotperhapsbeensufficientlyattendedtothatvery

  similarviewsarefoundinDunoyer,ofwhoseworkBastiatspokeasexercisingapowerfulinfluenceon\"therestorationof

  thescience,\"andwhomFontenay,thebiographerofBastiat,tellsusherecognisedasoneofhismasters,CharlesComte(69)beingtheother。

  Themodewhichhasjustbeenexplainedofconceivingindustrialactionandindustrialprogressisinterestingandinstructive

  sofarasitisreallyapplicable,butitwasundulygeneralised。CairneshaswellpointedoutthatBastiat’stheoreticsoundness

  wasinjuriouslyaffectedbyhishabitofstudyingdoctrineswithadirectviewtocontemporarysocialandpolitical

  controversies。Hewasthuspredisposedtoacceptviewswhichappearedtolendasanctiontolegitimateandvaluable

  institutions,andtorejectthosewhichseemedtohimtoleadtodangerousconsequences。Hisconstantaimis,ashehimself

  expressedit,to\"breaktheweapons\"ofanti—socialreasoners\"intheirhands,\"andthispreoccupationinterfereswiththe

  single—mindedefforttowardstheattainmentofscientifictruth。Thecreationoradoptionofhistheoryofvaluewasinspired

  bythewishtomeetthesocialisticcriticismofpropertyinland;fortheexigenciesofthiscontroversyitwasdesirabletobe

  abletoshowthatnothingiseverpaidforexceptpersonaleffort。Hisviewofrentwas,therefore,sotospeak,fore—

  ordained,thoughitmayhavebeensuggested,asindeedtheeditorofhisposthumousfragmentsadmitsbythewritingsof

  Carey。Heheld,withtheAmericanauthor,thatrentispurelytherewardofthepainsandexpenditureofthelandlordorhis

  predecessorsintheprocessofconvertingthenaturalsoilintoafarmbyclearing,draining,fencing,andtheotherspeciesof

  permanentimprovements。(70)Hethusgetsridofthe(so—called)Ricardiandoctrine,whichwasacceptedbythesocialists,and

  bythemusedforthepurposeofassailingtheinstitutionoflandedproperty,or,atleast,ofsupportingaclaimof

  compensationtothecommunityfortheappropriationofthelandbytheconcessionofthe\"righttolabour。\"AsCairneshas

  said,(71)\"whatBastiatdidwasthis:havingbeenatinfinitepainstoexcludegratuitousgiftsofnaturefromthepossible

  elementsofvalue,andpointedlyidentified\"[rather,associated]\"thephenomenonwith`humaneffort’asitsexclusivesource,

  hedesignateshumaneffortbytheterm`service,’andthenemploysthistermtoadmitassourcesofvaluethosevery

  gratuitousnaturalgiftstheexclusionofwhichinthiscapacityconstitutedtheessenceofhisdoctrine。\"Thejusticeofthis

  criticismwillbeapparenttoanyonewhoconsidersthewayinwhichBastiattreatsthequestionofthevalueofadiamond。

  Thatwhatispaidforinmostcasesofhumandealingsiseffortnoonecandispute。Butitissurelyareductioadabsurdumof

  histheoryofvalue,regardedasadoctrineofuniversalapplication,torepresentthepriceofadiamondwhichhasbeen

  accidentallyfoundasremunerationfortheeffortofthefinderinappropriatingandtransmittingit。And,withrespecttoland,

  whilstalargepartofrent,inthepopularsense,mustbeexplainedasinterestoncapital,itisplainthatthenativepowersof

  thesoilarecapableofappropriation,andthatthenapricecanbedemandedandwillbepaidfortheiruse。

  Bastiatisweakonthephilosophicalside;heisfilledwiththeideasoftheologicalteleology,andisledbytheseideastoform

  aprioriopinionsofwhatexistingfactsandlawsmustnecessarilybe。Andthejusnature,which,likemetaphysicalideas

  generally,hasitsrootintheology,isasmuchapostulatewithhimaswiththephysiocrats。Thus,inhisessayonFreeTrade,

  hesays:\"Exchangeisanaturalrightlikeproperty。Everycitizenwhohascreatedoracquiredaproductoughttohavethe

  optionofeitherapplyingitimmediatelytohisownuseorcedingittowhosoeveronthesurfaceoftheglobeconsentsto

  givehiminexchangetheobjectofhisdesires。\"SomethingofthesamesorthadbeensaidbyTurgot;andinhistimethisway

  ofregardingthingswasexcusable,andevenprovisionallyuseful;butinthemiddleofthe19thcenturyitwastimethatit

  shouldbeseenthroughandabandonedBastiathadarealenthusiasmforasciencewhichhethoughtdestinedtorendergreatservicestomankind,andheseemsto

  havebelievedintenselythedoctrineswhichgaveaspecialcolourtohisteaching。Ifhisoptimisticexaggerationsfavouredthe

  propertiedclasses,theycertainlywerenotpromptedbyself—interestorservility。Buttheyareexaggerations;and,amidstthe

  modernconflictsofcapitalandlabour,hisperpetualassertionofsocialharmoniesisthecryof\"peace,peace,\"wherethereis

  nopeace。Thefreedomofindustry,whichhetreatedasapanacea,hasundoubtedlybroughtwithitgreatbenefits;buta

  sufficientexperiencehasshownthatitisinadequatetosolvethesocialproblem。Howcantheadvocatesofeconomic

  revolutionbemetbyassuringthemthateverythinginthenaturaleconomyisharmoniousthat,infact,alltheyseekfor

  alreadyexists?Acertaindegreeofspontaneousharmonydoesindeedexist,forsocietycouldnotcontinuewithoutit,butit

  isimperfectandprecarious;thequestionis,Howcanwegivetoitthemaximumofcompletenessandstability?

  AugustinCournot(18011877)appearstohavebeenthefirst(72)who,withacompetentknowledgeofbothsubjects,

  endeavouredtoapplymathematicstothetreatmentofeconomicquestions。HistreatiseentitledRecherchessurlesPrincipes

  MathématiquesdeLaThéoriedesRichesseswaspublishedin1838。Hementionsinitonlyonepreviousenterpriseofthe

  samekind(thoughtherehadinfactbeenothers)that,namely,ofNicolasFrançoisCanard,whosebook,publishedin1802,

  wascrownedbytheInstitute,though\"itsprincipleswereradicallyfalseaswellaserroneouslyapplied。\"Notwithstanding

  Cournot’sjustreputationasawriteronmathematics,theRecherchesmadelittleimpression。Thetruthseemstobethathis

  resultsareinsomecasesoflittleimportance,inothersofquestionablecorrectness,andthat,intheabstractionstowhichhe

  hasrecourseinordertofacilitatehiscalculations,anessentialpartoftherealconditionsoftheproblemissometimes

  omitted。Hispagesaboundinsymbolsrepresentingunknownfunctions,theformofthefunctionbeinglefttobeascertained

  byobservationoffacts,whichhedoesnotregardasapartofhistask,oronlysomeknownpropertiesoftheundetermined

  functionbeingusedasbasesfordeduction。Jevonsincludesinhislistofworksinwhichamathematicaltreatmentof

  economicsisadoptedasecondtreatisewhichCournotpublishedin1863,withthetitlePrincipesdeLaThéoriedes

  Richesses。Butinreality,intheworksonamed,whichiswrittenwithgreatability,andcontainsmuchforciblereasoningin

  oppositiontotheexaggerationsoftheordinaryeconomists,themathematicalmethodisabandoned,andthereisnotan

  algebraicalformulainthebook。Theauthoradmitsthatthepublichasalwaysshownarepugnancetotheuseof

  mathematicalsymbolsineconomicdiscussion,and,thoughhethinkstheymightbeofserviceinfacilitatingexposition,fixing

  theideas,andsuggestingfurtherdevelopments,heacknowledgesthatagravedangerattendstheiruse。Thedanger,

  accordingtohim,consistsintheprobabilitythatanunduevaluemaybeattachedtotheabstracthypothesesfromwhichthe

  investigatorsetsout,andwhichenablehimtoconstructhisformulae。Andhispracticalconclusionisthatmathematical

  processesshouldbeemployedonlywithgreatprecaution,orevennotemployedatallifthepublicjudgmentisagainstthem,

  for\"thisjudgment,\"hesays,\"hasitssecretreasons,almostalwaysmoresurethanthosewhichdeterminetheopinionsof

  individuals。\"Itisanobviousconsiderationthattheacceptanceofunsoundorone—sidedabstractprinciplesasthepremisesof

  argumentdoesnotdependontheuseofmathematicalforms,thoughitispossiblethattheemploymentofthelattermayby

  associationproduceanillusioninfavourofthecertaintyofthosepremises。Butthegreatobjectiontotheuseofmathematics

  ineconomicreasoningisthatitisnecessarilysterile。Ifweexaminetheattemptswhichhavebeenmadetoemployit,we

  shallfindthatthefundamentalconceptionsonwhichthedeductionsaremadetorestarevague,indeedmetaphysical,intheir

  character。Unitsofanimalormoralsatisfaction,ofutility,andthelike,areasforeigntopositivescienceasaunitof

  normativefacultywouldbe;andaunitofvalue,unlessweunderstandbyvaluethequantityofonecommodityexchangeable

  undergivenconditionsforanother,isanequallyindefiniteidea。Mathematicscanindeedformulateratiosofexchangewhen

  theyhaveoncebeenobserved;butitcannotbyanyprocessofitsowndeterminethoseratios,forquantitativeconclusions

  implyquantitativepremises,andthesearewanting。Thereisthennofutureforthiskindofstudy,anditisonlywasteof

  intellectualpowertopursueit。Buttheimportanceofmathematicsasaneducationalintroductiontoallthehigherordersof

  researchisnotaffectedbythisconclusion。Thestudyofthephysicalmedium,orenvironment,inwhicheconomic

  phenomenatakeplace,andbywhichtheyareaffected,requiresmathematicsasaninstrument;andnothingcaneverdispense

  withthedidacticefficacyofthatscience,assupplyingtheprimordialtypeofrationalinvestigation,givingthelively

  sentimentofdecisiveproof,anddisincliningthemindtoillusoryconceptionsandsophisticalcombinations。Andaknowledge

  ofatleastthefundamentalprinciplesofmathematicsisnecessarytoeconomiststokeepthemrightintheirstatementsof

  doctrine,andpreventtheirenunciatingpropositionswhichhavenodefinitemeaning。Evendistinguishedwriterssometimes

  betrayaseriousdeficiencyinthisrespect;thustheyassertthatonequantity\"variesinverselyas\"another,whenwhatis

  meantisthatthesum(nottheproduct)ofthetwoisconstant;andtheytreatascapableofnumericalestimationtheamount

  ofanaggregateofelementswhich,differinginkind,cannotbereducedtoacommonstandard。Asanexampleofthelatter

  error,itmaybementionedthat\"quantityoflabour,\"sooftenspokenofbyRicardo,andinfactmadethebasisofhissystem,

  includessuchvariousspeciesofexertionaswillnotadmitofsummationorcomparison。

  ITALY

  ThefirstItaliantranslationoftheWealthofNationsappearedin1780。ThemostdistinguishedItalianeconomistofthe

  periodheredealtwithwas,however,nodiscipleofSmith。ThiswasMelehiorreGioja,author,besidesstatisticalandother

  writings,ofavoluminousworkentitledNuovoProspettodelleScienzeEconomiche(6vols。,181517;theworkwasnever

  completed),intendedtobeanencyclopaediaofallthathadbeentaughtbytheorists,enactedbyGovernments,oreffectedby

  populationsinthefieldofpublicandprivateeconomyItisalearnedandabletreatise,butsooverladenwithquotationsand

  tablesastorepelratherthanattractreaders。GiojaadmiredthepracticaleconomicsystemofEngland,andenlargesonthe

  advantagesofterritorialproperties,manufactures,andmercantileenterprisesonthelargeasopposedtothesmallscale。He

  defendsarestrictivepolicy,andinsistsonthenecessityoftheactionofthestateasaguiding,supervising,andregulating

  powerintheindustria]world。Butheisinfullsympathywiththesentimentofhisageagainstecclesiasticaldominationand

  othermediaevalsurvivals。WecanbutverybrieflynoticeRomagnosi(d。1835),who,byhiscontributionstoperiodical

  literature,andbyhispersonalteaching,greatlyinfluencedthecourseofeconomicthoughtinItaly;AntonioScialoja

  (Principiid’EconomiaSociale,1840;andCarestiaeGoverno,1853),anableadvocateoffreetrade(d。1877)Luigi

  Cibrario,wellknownastheauthorofEconomiaPoliticadelmedicevo(1839;5thed。,1861:Frenchtrans。byBarneaud,

  1859),whichisinfactaviewofthewholesocialsystemofthatperiod;GirolamoBoccardo(b。1829;Trattato

  Teorico—praticodiEconomiaPolitica,1853);

点击下载App,搜索"A History of Political Economy",免费读到尾