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An Analysis of the Principles of Economics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2014

Patrick Geddes
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Extract

In a paper read nearly three years ago to this Society, I have attempted

  1. (1) To review the existing state of statistics ;

  2. (2) To define the nature of the subject, and its relation to history and the sciences;

  3. (3) Broadly to group and co-ordinate the whole body of existing and possible statistics, in relation to the respective statistical sciences ; and

  4. (4) In accordance with the preliminary sciences to frame a classification embracing all existing and possible sociological statistics. Moreover,

  5. (5) This was shown to involve, or rather actually to constitute, an aspect of the pressing problem of the systematisation of the literature of economics, of which

  6. (6) The existing schools were briefly criticised ;

  7. (7) The relation of the conceptions of scientific economics to practical economics was outlined ;

  8. (8) As also their relation to ethics.

Type
Proceedings 1882-83
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 12 , 1884 , pp. 943 - 980
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1884

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References

note * page 943 “On the Classification of Statistics and its Results,” Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin., 1881; also published separately by A. & C. Black, Edinburgh.

note * page 944 Classification of Statistics, p. 26.

note * page 945 Ingram “On the Present Position, &c, of Pol. Econ.,” Brit. Ass. Report, 1878.

note * page 953 These considerations are more fully developed in the Classification of Statistics, pp. 13, 14. VOL. XII.

note * page 690 Mulhall, Balance Sheet of the World.

note * page 964 The reader may at first suppose that it is here attempted to discuss questions essentially sociological under biology—but this “materialism” (v. § 12) will be carefully guarded against. All that concerns only the objective and bodily side of a man is purely biological; and this may be summed up for a number of men, looked at simply as a herd or mass, without leaving the field of pure biology. Sociology, on the other hand, concerns itself with individualities of a higher order:—with aggregates of men integrated into wholes for definite functions ; as firm, bank, company, regiment, post office, and only considers the individual components in their relations to these. The census, then, is primarily biological, but also of course has sociological elements of high importance ;—but these await separate and subsequent discussion.

note * page 965 Vide Classification of Statistics, passim.

note * page 971 I.e., all beneficent or benevolent agencies whatever thus fall into three genera, or rather brigades (e.g., ecclesiastical, charitable, educational, medical, &c, into the first; trades-unions, &c, into the second ; associations concerned with hygiene, housing, art, &c, into the third). This classification, moreover, corresponds to the developmental succession of such agencies ; and this is now approaching an end, while the requisite co-ordination is becoming possible.

note * page 972 Math. Theory of Pol Econ.

note * page 978 Lewes, Study of Psychology, chap. i.

note * page 979 Thus the dispute preceding the passing of the Factory Acts did not lie between “economic science” and “sentiment,” but between the ideals of physical and biological economics (q.v.).