The Socialism of to-day

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 835096955

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-28834

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Laveleye, Émile de

Title:: The Socialism of to-day

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Field & Tuer

Year of publication:: 1884

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XLIV, 331 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

266 THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. The successors of Adam Smith, such as Ricardo, McCulloch, J. B. Say, and the whole “ English School,” followed the de ductive method. This school starts from certain views regarding man and nature, which it announces as axioms, and from which it draws all its conclusions. Rossi put this method in a clear light when he said that “ Political Economy, in so far as it lays down general propositions, is a science of reason rather than a science of observation. It has for its aim reasoned knowledge of the relations which flow from the nature of things. ... It seeks for its laws, while relying on the general and constant facts of human nature.” * In this system, man is treated as a being who pursues at all times and places his individual interest. Actuated by this motive, which is good in itself, since it is the principle of his preservation, each man seeks what is useful for himself, and what this is nobody can discern better than he. If, then,'he is free to do as he chooses, he will succeed in procuring for him self all the happiness which it is given him to attain. Hitherto the State has always placed restrictions on the full expansion of economic forces ; but remove these restrictions, and, all men advancing freely to the pursuit of well-being, the true order will be established in the world. Universal competition, free from restraint, brings each individual to the place which suits him best, and enables him to obtain the appropriate reward for his labour. As Montesquieu says, “ it is competition that fixes the proper price of merchandise.” It is the infallible regulator of the industrial world. It is a sort of providential law which makes order and justice reign in the complicated relations of human societies. Let the State refrain from all interference in human affairs, let entire freedom be given to property, capital, labour, trade, and callings, and the production of wealth will reach the highest pitch, and thus the general welfare will become as great as possible. The legislator should not trouble himself about the distribution of wealth ; it will take place conformably to natural laws and to free conventions. A single phrase, uttered by Gournay in the last century, sums up the whole doctrine : Laissez faire, laissez passer. * Cours d’économie politique. Lesson IL, year 1836.

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: The Socialism of to-day

Monograph

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation