The Socialism of to-day

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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

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THE SOCIALISTS OF THE CHAIR. 271 and the re-establishment of the ancient régime ; secondly, Socialism, which looks for a radical change of the social order ; and lastly, the orthodox economy, which believes that every thing will be set to rights by means of liberty and the action of natural laws. According to the Katheder-Socialisten, none of these three systems will resolve the difficulties which trouble the present epoch. A return to the past is impossible, a general and sudden modification of society is equally impossible, and to invoke liberty is, on this point, to cheat one’s self with empty words j for it is a question of right, of the statute-book, and of social organization. Distribution is effected not only by virtue of contracts, which ought, of course, to be free, but mainly by virtue of the laws of the State and the moral sentiments, of which it is necessary to estimate the influence and judge the equity. ' If fias been a mistake to investigate economical problems from an isolated standpoint ; they are closely connected with psychology, religion, morals, law, customs, and history. It is, therefore, necessary to take all these elements into account, and not to be contented with the uniform and superficial formula of laissez faire. The class antagonism, which has been from all time at the bottom of political revolutions, reappears to-day with more serious features than ever. It seems to imperil the future of civilization. There is no use in denying the evil ; it is far better to study it under all its forms, and to endeavour to apply a remedy to it by means of successive and rational reforms. It is to morals, to the sentiment of justice, and to Christian charity that we must look for inspiration. Political Economy ought to be an ethical science. The Socialists of the Chair differ altogether from the old school in their view of the nature and limits of the right of property. The orthodox Economists speak of “ property ” as if it were an absolute right, perfectly defined and always iden tical. The new Economists assert, on the contrary, that this right has assumed very different forms in relation to the modes of production of each epoch ; that in like manner it is called upon to undergo new changes ; that it can never be considered as absolute, since it exists only in the general

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