看漫画 首页 男频 女频 排行 免费
搜索
今日热搜
消息
历史

你暂时还没有看过的小说

「 去追一部小说 」
查看全部历史
收藏

同步收藏的小说,实时追更

你暂时还没有收藏过小说

「 去追一部小说 」
查看全部收藏

金币

0

月票

0

第1章

作者:佚名 字数:36031 更新:2026-03-10 23:23:19

Thegoodsandservicesthatconstituteournationalincomearevaluedseverallyandcollectivelywithafairamountofaccuracyintermsofmoney。

Foragoldstandard,thoughbynomeansperfectfortheworkofmonetarymeasurement,isstableandhasasingledefinitemeaningtoallmen。Bymeansofitwecanestimatetheratesofgrowthordeclineinourindustry,asanaggregateorinitsseveraldepartments,andthequantitiesofoutputandconsumptionofthevariousproducts。Wecancomparethegrowthofournationalwealthwiththatofothernations。

Buthowfarcanthesemeasurementsofconcretewealthfurnishreliableinformationregardingthevitalvalues,thehumanwelfare,whichalleconomicprocessesaredesignedtoyield?Thoughitwillbegenerallyadmittedthateveryincreaseofeconomicwealthisinsomemeasureconducivetowelfare,everydecreasetoillfare,nobodywillpretendevenapproximatelytodeclarewhatthatmeasureis,ortolaydownanyexplicitrulesrelatingwealthtowelfare,eitherforanindividualoranation。Indeed,eventhegeneralassumptionthateverygrowthofwealthenhanceswelfarecannotbeadmittedwithoutqualification。Aninjuriousexcessofincomeispossibleforanindividual,perhapsforanation,andthenationalwelfarewhichanincreasedvolumeofwealthseemscapableofyieldingmightbemorethancancelledbyadistributionwhichbestoweduponafewanincreasedshareofthelargerwealth,orbyanaggravationofthetoiloftheproducers。

Suchobviousconsiderationsdriveustoseeksomeintelligibleandconsistentmethodofhumanvaluationforeconomicgoodsandprocesses。

Tofindastandardofhumanwelfareasstableandasgenerallyacceptableasthemonetarystandardismanifestlyimpossible。Indeed,thedifficultiesattendinganysortofcalculusofvitalvaluesmightappearinsuperable,wereitnotforonereflection。Everystatesman,socialreformer,philanthropist,everypublic-spiritedcitizen,doespossessandapplytotheconductofaffairssomesuchstandardorcriterionasweareseeking。Somenotionoridea,moreorlessclearandexplicit,ofthegeneralwelfare,crossedandblurrednodoubtbyotherinterestsandpassions,isanoperativeanddirectiveinfluenceinhispolicy。Moreover,thoughidiosyncrasieswilleverywhereaffectthisoperativeideal,therewillbefoundamongpersonsofwidelydifferentmindsanddispositionsasubstantialbodyofagreementintheirmeaningofhumanwelfare。

Thecommonsocialenvironmentpartlyevokes,partlyimposes,thisagreement。Infact,allco-operativeworkforsocialprogressimpliestheexistenceofsomesuchstandardasweareseeking。Thecompleximageofhumanvalueswhichitcontainsisalwaysslowlychanging,andvariessomewhatamongdifferentsortsandconditionsofmen。Butfortheinterpretationofeconomicgoodsandprocessesithas,atanytime,arealvalidity。Foritisanchoredtocertainsolidfoundationsofhumannature,theneedsandfunctionstowhich,alikeintheindividualandinthesociety,wegivetheterm\'organic。\'Onlybyconsideringtheorganicnatureofmanandofhumansocietycanwetraceanintelligibleorderintheevolutionofindustry。Thewantsofman,andthereforetheeconomicoperationsservingthemmustbetreatedasorganicprocesses。

Thisterm,borrowedfrombiology,mustbeextendedsoastocovertheentirephysicalandspiritualstructureofhumansociety,fornoothertermissowellfittedtodescribethenatureofthefederalunitywhichsocietypresents。Thestandardofvaluesthussetupisthecurrentestimateof\'organicwelfare。\'

Thejustificationofthesetermsandofthismodeofhumanvaluationistobefoundintheirapplicationtothetaskbeforeus。Thesetoolswillbefoundtodotheworkbetterthananyothersthatareavailable。

Inseekingtotranslateeconomicvaluesintohumanbyreferencetosuchastandardoforganicwelfare,ItakeastheaptestmaterialforexperimenttheaggregateofgoodsandservicesthatconstitutetherealincomeoftheBritishnation。Inordertoreducethatincometotermsofhumanwelfare,Ifirstexamineseparatelytheeconomiccostsofproductionandtheeconomicutilitiesofconsumptionwhichmeetinthisconcretewealth,analysingthemintohumancostandhumanutility,thedebitandcreditsidesoftheaccountofwelfare。Analysisoftheproductiveprocesseswill,ofcourse,disclosethefactthatnotall\'economic\'costshavehumancostsattachedtothem,butthathumanutilitiesofvaryingvalueinhereinmanysortsofproductivework。

Surveyingthedifferentordersofproductiveenergy,fromthefinestartstothelowestmodesofroutinetoil,wediscoverthatanytwobodiesofeconomicwealth,possessingthesamepecuniaryvalue,maydifferenormouslyinthequantityofhumancosttheycarry。Forthatcostwilldependuponthenatureofthework,thenatureoftheworkers,andthedistributionoftheworkamongtheworkers。Thislineofenquiryopensout,informatanyrate,acompletecriticismofcurrentEnglishindustry,fromthehumaniststandpoint。Asimilaranalysisappliedontheconsumptionsideresolvestheeconomicutilityofthegoodsandservicesintohumanutility。Hereagainoutofeconomicutilitiesmuchhumancostemerges,justasoutofeconomiccostsmuchhumanutility。Equalquantitiesofincomeyieldintheirconsumptionwidelydiversequantitiesofhumanutilityorwelfare。

Piecingtogetherthetwosidesofourenquiryintotheproductionandconsumptionoftheincome,weperceive,asmightbeexpected,thatasoundhumaneconomyconformstotheorganiclawofdistribution,\'fromeachaccordingtohispower,toeachaccordingtohisneeds,\'andthat,preciselysofarasthecurrentprocessesofeconomicdistributionofworkandofitsproductcontravenethisorganiclaw,wasteaccruesandillfaredisplaceswelfare。

Theeconomicdistinctionbetweencostsandunearnedsurplus1furnishesineffectafaithfulmeasureoftheextentandformsofdivergencebetweentheeconomicandthehuman\'law\'ofdistribution。Forwhenthissurplusincomeistraced,backwardtothehumancostsinvolvedinitsproduction,forwardtothehumaninjuriesinflictedbytheexcessiveandbadconsumptionitsustains,itisseentobethedirectefficientcauseofallthehumandefectsinoureconomicsystem。Growinginmagnitudewiththedevelopmentofthemodernartsofindustryandcommerce,itistheconcreteembodimentofthesocial-economicproblem。Theabsorptionandutilisationofthesurplusforthebettermentoftheworking-classesandtheenrichmentofpubliclifeareessentialconditionsforthehumanisationofindustry。Thefirsthalfofthebookisoccupiedwiththegeneralexpositionandillustrationofthismethodofhumanvaluation。Thesecondpartappliesthehumanistprinciplesthusestablished,tothediscussionofsomeofthegreatpracticalissuesofsocial-economicreconstructioninthefieldsofbusinessandpolitics。Themedleyofoverlappingconflictsbetweencapitalandlabour,producerandconsumer,competitionandcombination,theindividualandsociety,issiftedsoastodiscoverlinesofindustrialreformationbaseduponaconceptionoforganicharmony。Thereconstructionofthebusiness,soasadequatelytorepresentinitsoperationtherespectiveinterestsofcapital,ability,labourandtheconsumer,isseentobethefirstdesideratumofreform。Here,asinthewideroppositionsbetweenbusinessandbusiness,tradeandtrade,nationandnation(misconceivedaseconomicunits),themorerationalstandpointofahumanistvaluationsuggestsmodesofreconcilementfollowinganevolutionofeconomicstructureinwhichthecorporateorco-operativespiritfindsclearerandstrongerexpression。Themostdebatedquestion,howfarordinaryhumannaturecanyieldeconomicmotivestosocialservicestrongandreliableenoughtoenablesocietytodispensewithsomeoftheincentivesofcompetitivegreed,hithertodeemedindispensablesupportstoindustry,isdiscussedinseveralofthelaterchapters。Thepracticablelimitsofindustrialreformationarefoundtodependupontherealityandimportanceassignedto\'thesocialwill\'asapoweroperativeforindustrialpurposes,inotherwordsuponthestrengthofthespiritualunityofsociety。

Afinalchapterisgiventoadiscussionofthelimitationsofthescientificandquantitativemethodsintheinterpretationanddirectionofsocial-economiclife。Itiscontendedthattheartofsocialasofindividualconductmustalwaysdefyexactscientificguidance,themethodsofsciencebeingincompetentcloselytopredictordirectthecreativeelementinorganicprocesses。

Theprocessesofhumanvaluationandjudgment,therefore,whetherappliedtoindustryortootheractivitiesandachievements,mustultimatelybelongtotheartratherthantothescienceofsociety,thestatesmanandthecitizenabsorbingandassimilatingthehistoryofthepastwhichsciencepresentsinitsfactsandlaws,butusinghisfreeconstructivefacultytomakethehistoryofthefuture。Thefailuresoftheindividualstatesmanorcitizenintheperformanceofthisartisticworkareduetothefactthatalargerartist,whoseperformancethemostenlightenedindividualcanbutslightlyapprehend,viz。,societyitself,takesanover-rulingpartintheprocess。

Thisbriefpresentationoftheargument,dwellingunavoidablyuponintellectualmethod,maypossiblyhavefailedtoconveytheintenselypracticalpurposewhichIhavekeptinmindthroughoutthepreparationofthebook。

Thatpurposeistopresentafullandformalexposureoftheinhumanityandvitalwasteofmodernindustrybythecloseapplicationofthebest-approvedformulasofindividualandsocialwelfare,andtoindicatethemosthopefulmeasuresofremedyforasocietysufficientlyintelligent,courageousandself-governingtoapplythem。

Suchaworkevidentlypresentsalargefrontforhostilecriticism。

Itsscopehasoftencompelledarigorouscompressioninthediscussionofimportantcontroversialtopics,andhasprecludedallentranceuponthemoredetailedissuesinthepolicyofreconstruction。ButIventuretohopethatmanyreaders,whomaydisagreewiththeparticularvaluationsandinterpretationsofferedinthesechapters,willbeledtoacceptthebroaderoutlinesofthemethodofhumanvaluationhereproposed,andwillrecognizetheimportanceofabetterapplicationofthismethodinthesolutionsofthepracticalproblemsofeconomicreform。J。A。HOBSON。HAMPSTEAD,January,1914。

NOTES:

1。Thisdistinctioniselaboratedinmywork,TheIndustrialSystem。CHAPTERI:THEHUMANSTANDARDOFVALUE

§;I。Inanagewhenhumanproblemsofadistinctivelyeconomiccharacter,relatingtowages,hoursoflabour,housing,employment,taxation,insuranceandkindredsubjects,arepressingforseparateconsiderationandsolution,itisparticularlyimportanttoenforcetheneedofageneralsurveyofoureconomicsystemfromthestandpointofhumanvalues。Socialstudents,ofcourse,arejustifiedbyconsiderationsofintellectualeconomyinisolatingtheseseveralproblemsforcertainpurposesofdetailedenquiry。Butthebroaderhumansetting,demandedforthejudgmentorthepolicyofastatesmanorreformer,canneverbeobtainedbythisseparatisttreatment。Fortheinteractionswhichrelatetheseissuestooneanotherarenumerousandintimate。Takingasthemostfamiliarexamplethegroupsofquestionsrelatingtotheworking-classes,werecogniseatoncehowthewages,hours,regularityofemploymentandotherconsiderationsoflabour,overlapandintertwine,

while,again,thequestionsrelatingtoconditionsofliving,suchashousing,food,drink,education,recreation,facilitiesoftransit,havesimilarinterrelationsasfactorsinastandardofcomfort。Norisitlessevidentthatconditionsoflabourandconditionsofliving,takenseverallyandintheaggregate,interactinwaysthataffecttheefficiencyandwell-beingofthepeople。

Thespecialandseparatestudiesofthesevariousproblemsmustthen,inordertobesociallyserviceable,besubjecttotheguidanceanddirectionofsomegeneralconceptionwhichshallhaveregardtoallsortsofeconomicfactorsandoperations,assessingthembyreferencetosomesinglestandardofthehumanlydesirable。Thisgeneralsurveyandtheapplicationofthissinglestandardofvaluationarenecessaryaliketoascientificinterpretationoftheeconomicorindustrialworldandtoaconsciousartofsocial-economicprogress。Theymustexertacontroloverthedivisionofintellectuallabourontheonehand,andovertheutilisationofsuchlabourforsocialpolicyupontheother。Thenotionthat,bysettinggroupsofstudentstoworkatgathering,testing,measuringandtabulatingcrudefacts,relating,say,toinfantmortality,expenditureondrink,orwagesinwomen\'sindustries,valuabletruthsofwideapplicationwillsomehowbespontaneouslygenerated,andthatbyapurelyinductiveprocesstherewillcometolightgenerallawsauthoritativeforsocialpolicy,isentirelydestituteoffoundation。

Thehumblestgrubberamong\'facts\'mustapproachthemwithsomeequipmentofquestions,hypotheses,andmethodsofclassification,allofwhichimplytheacceptanceofprinciplesderivedfromawiderfieldofthought。Thesameholdsagainofthenexthighergradeofstudents,theintellectualmiddlemenwhoutilisethe\'facts\'gotbythedetailedworkers\'attheface。\'

Theytoomustbringwiderprinciplestocorrelateandtointerprettheresultsgotbythehumblerworkers。Soateachstageoftheinductiveprocess,lawsandstandardsderivedfromahigherintellectualstagearebroughttobear。

Evenifsuchstudieswerepromptedentirelybyadisinteresteddesireforknowledge,itisevidentthattheirsuccessimpliestheinspirationandapplicationofsomegeneralideas,whichinrelationtothesestudiesareapriori。Butregardingthesestudiesasdesignedprimarilytoassisttheartofsocialpolicy,wemustrecognisethattheinnerpromptingmotiveofeveryquestionthatisputateachstageofsuchenquiries,theinnerregulativeprincipleofthedivisionoflabourandofthecorrelationoftheresults,isthedesiretorealisesomemoreorlessclearconceptionofgeneralhumanwell-being。Itmust,ofcourse,beadmittedthatthisprocedurerestsuponasortofparadox。Thegeneralconceptionofhumanwell-beingisitselfvagueandunsubstantial,untilithasacquiredandassimilatedtheverysortsofknowledgethecollection

ofwhichitishereassumedtobeabletodirect。Thisparadox,however,isfamiliartoallwhoreflectupontheprogressofknowledgeinanydepartmentandforanypurpose。Ionlynameithereinordertoanticipatetheobjectionofthosedisposedtoquestionthevalidityofassuminganysortofstandardofhumanwelfare,andtoinsistupontestingeacheconomicissueuponwhattheycall\'itsownmerits。\'Theapplicationofageneralsurveyandageneralstandardofvaluesisnonethelessalogicallyvalidandapracticallyusefulprocedure,becausethenewfactswhichitsapplicationdisclosesaffordmorefulnessandexactitudetothesurvey,whilethestandardisitselfmadeclearerandmoreeffectivethereby。

Assumingittobeadmitted,then,thatahumanvaluationofeconomicprocessesispossibleanddesirable,bothfortheenlargementofknowledgeandforpurposesofsocialpolicy,thequestionsnextarise,\'Howshallweconceiveanddescribethestandardofhumanvaluation,andhowshallweapplyittotheinterpretationofthepresenteconomicsystem?\'

§;2。Beforefacingthesequestions,however,itwillbewelltohavebeforeourmindsaclearoutlinepictureofthiseconomicsystemwhichweseektovalue。Itconsistsoftwocomplexoperations,constantlyinteracting,knownasProductionandConsumptionofwealth。Bywealthisunderstoodallsortsofvendiblegoodsandservices。Sofarasmaterialwealthisconcerned,itis\'produced\'byaseriesofprocesseswhichconvertrawmaterialsintofinishedgoodsofvarioussortsandsizesanddisposetheminsuchquantitiesasarerequired,forthesatisfactionofconsumersorasinstrumentsinsomefurtherprocessofproduction。Similarly,inthecaseofprofessional,official,domestic,industrial,commercial,andotherpersonalservices,whichalsorankaswealth,1avarietyofproductiveprocessesgotopreparethemandtoplacethematthedisposalofconsumers。

Theprocessesofproductionmaythusbeclassifiedasextractive,manufacturing,artistic,transport,commercial,professional,domestic。Thusitisseenthattheworkof\'distribution\'and\'exchange,\'2sometimesdistinguishedfromtheworkofproduction,ishereincludedinthatcategory。

Now,thefirstdifficultyconfrontingusinoursearchforahumanvaluationofthiseconomicsystemconsistsintheobscurityinwhichhalfthissystemlies。Forthoughthereiseverywhereaformalrecognitionthatconsumptionistheendorgoalofindustry,thereisnoadmissionthattheartsofconsumptionareequallyimportantwiththeartsofproductionandaredeservingofasmuchattentionbystudentsorreformersofour\'economicsystem。\'Onthecontrary,soabsorbingaretheproductiveprocessesintheirclaimsuponthephysicalandmentalenergiesofmankind,thattheeconomicsystem,alikeforpractitionersandtheorists,hasalmostcometobeidentifiedwiththeseprocesses。Thisdepreciationandneglectofconsumptionnodoubthasbeennaturalenough。Somuchmoreconsciousenergyofthoughtandfeeling,andsomuchmoreexpenditureoftimeandefforthavegoneintothediscovery,developmentandpracticeoftheproductivearts。Theirpracticehasinvolvedsomuchmorepublicity,somuchwiderandmorevariedintercourse,andthereforesomuchmoreorganisation。Consumption,ontheotherhand,hasbeensomuchmorepassiveinitscharacter,soprivateandindividualintheactswhichcompriseit,solittleassociatedwithsequencesofthoughtorpurpose,thatithashardlycometoberegardedasanart。Hence,eveninthemoreelaboratecivilisationswheremuchdetailedskillandattentionaredevotedtotheuseandenjoymentofgoodsandservices,theneglectofconsumptiveprocessesbyeconomicscienceremainsalmostunimpaired。Theartsofproductionremainsomuchmoreexactingintheirdemandsuponourattention。

Theearlyinfluenceofthisdominanceoftheproductivestandpointineconomicsciencehashadeffectsupontheterminologyandstructureofthatsciencewhichareseriousobstaclestothehumaninterpretationofindustry。unconsciously,butconsistently,theearlystructureofthesciencewasbuiltwithexclusiveregardtotheindustrialorproductiveprocesses。Theartoutofwhichthesciencegrewwasconcernedwiththeprogressofagriculture,manufacture,andcommerce,orwithproblemsofmoney,taxation,andpopulation,regardedmainlyorwhollyfromtheproductivestandpoint。Theunderlyingassumptioneverywherewasthequestion,\'Howwillthisorthatpolicyaffectthequantityofwealthproducedinthecountry?\'alwayswithanimportantcorollarytotheeffect,\'Howwillitaffectthequantityofwealth,passingasrents,profits,interest,orwagestotheseveralclassesofthenation?\'Butnowherewasthereanydirectconsiderationoftheartsofconsumption,withoneparticularlyinstructiveexception。Theonlybitofattentionpaidbyourearlyclassicaleconomiststoprocessesofconsumptionwastodistinguish\'productive\'

from\'unproductive\'consumption,thatis,tosuggestavaluationofconsumptionbasedentirelyuponitssubordinationtofuturepurposesofproduction。

Theircondemnationofluxuriousexpenditureandwaste,alikeinthewealthyandtheworking-classes,wasnotprimarilydirectedagainstthelossofrealenjoyment,orhumanwell-being,orthemoraldegradationinvolvedinsuchabuseofspendingpower,butagainstthedamagetothefurtherprocessesofmakingwealthbyreducingtherateofsavingorbyimpairingtheworkingefficiencyoflabour。Thoughoccasionalconsiderationsofamoredistinctivelyhumaneormoralcharacterenteredintothetiradesagainstluxury,orthedieteticadviceofferedbytheseeconomicteachers,themaintrendoftheirreflectionsontheuseofwealthwasquiteevidentlydominatedbyconsiderationsofincreasedproduction。Thistendencyfurtherimpresseditselfuponthecentralconceptofeconomicscience,thatofvalue,whichwastreatedbytheseearlymakersofPoliticalEconomyexclusivelyfromtheproductivestandpointof\'costs。\'When,however,latertheorists,beginningwithJevonsinthiscountry,soughttoconverttheformalgoalofconsumptionintotherealgoal,bysubstituting\'utility\'for\'cost\'

asthedeterminantofvalue,itmighthavebeensupposedthattheywouldhavebeenimpelled,passingthroughthegatewayofutilityintoconsumption,toopenupthathithertoneglectedcountry。Butnosuchthinghashappened。

Whileanelaboratedivisionofintellectuallabourhasbeenapplied,bothtothestudyoftheobjectivestructureofindustryandtothepsychologyofthevariousagentsofproduction,nocorrespondingstudiesofconsumptionhavebeenmade。Whentheproductsofindustrypassovertheretailcounter,economicsciencealmostentirelylosescountofthem。Theypassfromsightintothemysteriousmawof\'theConsumer。\'ithasneveroccurredtotheeconomistthatitisjustasimportanttohaveaclearandcloseknowledgeofwhathappenstoproductswhentheyhavebecomeconsumer\'sgoods,asitistotracetheirhistoryintheproductivestages。Itwould,ofcourse,beuntruetosaythatmoderneconomistscompletelyignoremethodsandmotivesofconsumption。TheirstudiesofvalueandofmarketscompelthemtodirectequalattentiontoforcesregulatingSupplyandDemand,andmanyofthemassignaformalsuperioritytothedemandforfinalcommoditieswhichissues

fromConsumers,astheregulatorofthewholeindustrialsystem。Butwhilethishasevokedsomeinterestingenquiriesintoquantitiesandmodesofconsumption,themaininterestoftheseenquirieshaslain,notinthelighttheyshedupontheuseandenjoymentgotfromconsumption,butintheeffectsofthatconsumptionupondemandasafactorinproblemsofpriceandofproduction。Inaword,theeconomicartsofconsumptionstillruninsubordinationtotheartsofproduction,andtheverynatureoftheinteresttakeninthematteststheirsecondaryplace。Halfofthefieldofeconomicsurveyimportantfromthestandpointofhumanwelfarethusstandsunexploredorill-explored。

§;3。Anecessaryresultofthisidentificationofeconomicsubject-matterwiththeproductiveapparatus,hasbeentoimposeuponthestudyofeconomicsadistinctivelymechanicalcharacter。Thenetworkofbusinessesandtradesandprocesses,whichconstitutesindustry,mayindeed,byaninterpretativeeffortofimagination,beresolvedintothemyriadsofthoughts,desiresandrelationswhichareitsspiritualtexture。Everybusiness,withitsvariedmachineryandplant,itsbuildings,materials,etc。,istheembodimentofconscioushumaneffort,andthepersonnelofmanagementandoperativesrepresentalivecurrentofvolitionandintelligence,directingandcooperatingwithit。Abusiness,thusregarded,isadistinctivelyspiritualfabric。

Noristhistrueonlyofthoseindustriesemployedinfashioningmaterialgoods。Thecomplicatedarrangementsofcommunicationsandofcommercewiththeirgangliaofmarkets,bywhichgoodspassfromoneprocesstoanotherandaregathered,sortedanddistributedinregulatedchannelsthroughouttheworldofworkersandconsumers,representanevenmoredelicateadjustmentofpsychicalactivities。Economicsciencetends,undoubtedly,tobecomelessmaterialinitsoutlookandtreatment,andtogivemoreattentiontothepsychologicalsupportsoftheindustrialsystem。Notonlyhavewemanyspecialstudiesofsucheconomicquestionsassavingandinvestment,businessadministrationandothercriticaloperationsofwillandjudgment,butinsuchworksasthoseofM。TardeinFrance,andMr。Wicksteedinthiscountry,wefindattemptsatasystematicpsychologicalinterpretationofindustry。Economics,indeed,accordingtothelatterwriter,isabranchofthescienceof\'preferences,\'theapplicationofintelligenthumanvolitiontothesatisfactionofeconomicwants。

Andyetthescienceremainsdistinctivelymechanicalandunfittedforthe

performanceofanyhumaninterpretationofindustry。ThisisduetothefailureofourpsychologicaleconomiststotearthemselvesfreefromthetraditionsofaPoliticalEconomywhichinitsverystructurehasmademansubservienttomarketablewealth。TheacceptedconceptionoftheArtofPoliticalEconomyisthatitisdirectedtotheproductionofwealthwhosevalueisattestedbythepurelyquantitativecalculusofmoney\'andtheScienceofPoliticalEconomyisvirtuallyconfinedtodiscoveringandformulatingthelawsfortheproductionofsuchwealth。ThebasicconceptsofValue,Cost,andUtility,aresubjectedtothisgoverningpresupposition。

Theirprimarysignificanceisamonetaryone。Thevalueofanystockofwealthissignifiedinmoney,thecostofitsproduction,theutilityofitsconsumption,areregisteredinmonetaryterms。Thepsychologicalresearcheswhichtakeplaceintoprocessesofthoughtanddesirearenotregardedashavingsignificanceontheirownaccount,butmerelyasmeansorinstrumentsintheworkingofindustrialprocesses。Thestudyofmotives,interests,andideasintheprocessofinvention,orintheorganisationandoperationofsomeproductivework,treatsthesethoughtsandfeelingsnotintheirfullbearinguponhumanlife,itsprogressorhappiness,butinexclusiverelationtothemonetaryendtowhichtheyaredirected。

§;4。Itisnoconcernofourstocriticisethisattitudeinthesenseofcondemnation。Butitisimportanttorealisethatnoprogressofpsychologicalanalysiswillenableeconomicsciencetosupplyahumanvaluationofindustrysolongasallthehumanfunctionsinvolvedineconomicprocessesaremeasured,assessed,andvalued,accordingtotheirbearingupontheproductionofa\'wealth\'whichhasnodirectlyassignablerelationtohumanwelfare,

butisestimatedbyapurelymonetarymeasure。Theneteffectofthisconceptionoftheeconomicsystemasanelaboratearrangementofmaterialandspiritualfactors,contributingtotheproductionanddistributionofastreamofvariousgoodsvaluedbyamonetarystandard,istoleaveuponthemindtheimpressofadistinctivelymechanicalapparatus。Noone,forexample,canreadthemasterlyworkofMr。Wicksteed3withoutrecognisingthathisdelicate,elaboratemeasurementsandbalancesofmotivesandpreferences,whileinvolvingandimplyingactionsthatnoonebutmancanperform,treatnotonlyindustry,buthumanityitselfasapsychologicalmechanism。

Thisdistinctivelymechanicalcharacterisinherentinthestructureofaneconomicsciencebaseduponthesubserviencyofallhumanactivitiestoapurelyquantitativeconceptionofwealth,andapurelymonetarystandardofvalue。Thischaracterofeconomicscienceis,ofcourse,bynomeansdisablingforallpurposes。Onthecontrary,itfurnishesvalidinstrumentsfortheinterpretationofmanyimportantgroupsofphenomenainthebusinessworld,andforthesolutionofcertainproblemswherepurelyquantitativestandardsandmethodsareapplicable。Indeed,theincreasingdevotionofeconomiststoproblemsofmoney,price,andotherdefinitelymonetaryquestions,maybetakenasahalf-instinctiverecognitionoftherealinadequacyofcurrenteconomicsforanyveryusefulsolutionofthosemorevitalproblemsintowhichcloselyhumanconsiderationsenterasgoverningfactors。Asweproceed,weshallrealiseinmoredetailthenatureoftheincapacityofcurrenteconomicstofurnishanyrulesforsettlingissuesthatrelatetowages,hoursoflabour,Stateinterferencewithprivateindustry,privateproperty,andotherhumanproblemswhichareinfirstappearance\'economic。\'

Threedefectsappear,then,todisqualifycurrenteconomicsciencefortheworkofhumanvaluation。First,anexaggeratedstressuponproduction,reflectedintheterminologyandmethodofthescience,withacorrespondingneglectofconsumption。Secondly,astandardofvalueswhichhasnoconsistentrelationtohumanwelfare。Thirdly,amechanicalconceptionoftheeconomicsystem,duetothetreatmentofeveryhumanactionasameanstotheproductionofnon-humanlyvaluedwealth。

§;5。Thesewarning-postsmayhelpustodiscoverandtoformulateanintellectualproceduremoresuitedtoourneeds。AhumanvaluationofindustrywillgiveequalattentiontoProductionandConsumption,willexpressCostandUtilityintermsofhumaneffortandsatisfaction,andwillsubstituteforthemonetarystandardofwealthastandardofhumanwell-being。Thisassertionofvitalvalueasthestandardandcriterionis,ofcourse,nonovelty。Ithasunderlainallthemorecomprehensivecriticismsoforthodoxpoliticaleconomybymoralistsandsocialreformers。

Byfarthemostbrilliantandeffectiveofthesecriticisms,thatofJohnRuskin,wasexpresslyformulatedintermsofvitalvalue。Thedefectswhichhefoundinthecurrenteconomicscienceweresubstantiallythesameasthosewhichwehavenoted。Hisfamousdeclarationthat\'Thereisnowealthbutlife,\'andhisinsistencethatallconcretewealthormoneyincomemustbeestimatedinrelationtothevitalcostofitsproductionandthevitalutilityofitsconsumption,istheevidentlyaccuratestandpointforahumanvaluationofindustry。Thisvitalcriterionhebroughttobearwithgreatskill,alikeupontheprocessesofproductionandconsumption,disposingtheimmensediscrepanciesbetweenmonetarycostsandhumancosts,monetarywealthandvitalwealth。Nooneeverhadamorevividandcomprehensiveviewoftheessentially

organicnatureoftheharmonyofvariousproductiveactivitiesneededforawholesomelife,andoftherelatedharmonyofusesandsatisfactionsontheconsumptiveside。Hismindseizedwithincomparableforceofvisionthecardinaltruthofhumaneconomics,viz。,thateverypieceofconcretewealthmustbevaluedintermsofthevitalcostsofitsproductionandthevitalusesofitsconsumption,andhismosteffectiveassaultuponcurrenteconomictheorywasbaseduponitscompleteinadequacytoaffordsuchinformation。But,thoughmostofhislaterwritingsweresuffusedwiththisconceptionofwealthandwiththedoubleprocessofanalysiswhichitinvolved,nowherewasthatanalysissystematicallyapplied。

Therewerebrilliantexcursionsintothedomainoflabour,distinguishingthenoblerandthebasersorts,thosewhicharetruly\'recreative\'andthosewhichdegradeandimpoverishlife。Therewasthefamousdistinctionbetween\'wealth\'and\'illth,\'accordingtotheessentialqualitiesofthegoodsandthesortsofpersonsintowhosehandstheypassforconsumption。

Inthemostsystematicofhisworks,MuneraPulveris,he,indeed,appearsattheoutsettohavehismindcloselysetupontheexactperformanceoftherequiredanalysis。For,definingthescopeofhiswork,hesays,\'Theessentialworkofthepoliticaleconomististodeterminewhatareinrealityusefulorlife-givingthings,andbywhatdegreesandkindoflabourtheyareattainableanddistributable。\'4Thenfollowsaclearandlogicaldistinctionbetweenvalueandcost。

Valueisthelife-givingpowerofanything;costthequantityoflabourrequiredtoproduceit。\'Hadheproceededtoestimate\'Wealth\'withequalregardtoitsvalueanditslabour-cost,thelatterexpressedinvitalterms,thescientificcharacterofhisanalysiswouldhavebeenpreserved。Butunfortunatelyheallowedhimselftobeoverweightedbyasenseofvaluewhichstresses\'humanutility\'ofconsumption,sothat,whilethe\'utility\'sideoftheequationisworkedoutwithadmirableskill,the\'cost\'orlaboursideisslighted,andtheorganicrelationbetweenthetwoislostsightof。TheconfusionwroughtinthemindsofreadersbythefailuretofindinanyofhisworksafullapplicationofhisprinciplehasbeenresponsibleforanunjustdisparagementofthetrulyscientificservicerenderedbyRuskintowardsthefoundationofsocial-economics。

FromaPisgahheighthismind\'seyesweptinquickpenetrativeglancesoverthepromisedland,buthedidnotoccupyit,orfurnishanyclearsurvey。

§;6。OurpurposehereisinparttoperformthetaskindicatedbyRuskin,viz。toapplytoindustrythevitalstandardofvaluation,oratanyratetoimprovetheinstrumentsofvitalsurvey。Butonly,inpart。

ForourtaskisinscopelesscomprehensivethanthattowhichRuskinappliedhimself。Thoughhisteachingsprangoriginallyfromtworelatedrootsofemotionalvaluationdistinctivelyeconomicintheirbearings,theloveofthefinersortsofhumanworkcalledArt,andthereprobationofthedegradingconditionsoftheworkmostofhiscountrymenwerecalledupontodo,itexpandedintoawidermeaningof\'economy\'whichincludednotmerelyeconomicactivitiesandeconomicgoods,butallsortsofvitalactivitiesandgoods。AcriticismofcurrentPoliticalEconomy,onthegroundthatitdidnottreatitsacceptedsubject-matterinavitalmanner,thusdevelopedintoaconstructivePoliticalEconomywhichnotmerelyhumanisedthemethodbutexpandedtheareaofthescienceandart,soastomakeitineffectacomprehensivescienceandartofhumanwelfare。

NowithasalwaysbeenanopenquestionwhetherthemakersofPoliticalEconomywereintellectuallyjustifiedinseveringmarketablefromnon-marketablegoodsandservices,andframingaseparatescienceuponstudiesoftheformer。Thatmarketablegoodsarenotalwaysseparablefromnon-marketable,andthattheeconomicactivitiesofmanarealwaysinter-relatedwithnon-economicactivities,areacceptedtruths。Ruskin\'sperceptionoftheintimacyoftheserelationsbetweencommercialandnon-commercialfunctionsandproductsledhimtobreakdown。thebarrierssetupbyEconomicScience,inthefurtheranceofanartwhichshouldsetupasitsgoal\'themultiplicationofhumanlifeatitshigheststandard。\'

Nowthisenlargementmaybequitelegitimate。ButitwasevidentlyresponsibleinlargemeasureforthefailureofRuskintodrivehomethecriticismdirectedagainstthecurrenteconomicteaching。ItwasonethingtoattackPoliticalEconomistsforfailingtotakedueaccountofhumanvaluesintheirtreatmentofprocessesrelatingtomarketablewealth。Itwas,however,quiteanothertoinsistthatthebarrierbetweenPoliticalEconomyandothersocialsciencesandartsshouldbetorndown,andthatallphenomenaofvitalimportshouldbecometheobjectsofitsstudy。HadRuskinbeenabletokeeptothenarrowerscope,doubtlesshewouldnothavebeenRuskin,buthisattackoncurrenteconomictheoryandpracticewouldhavebeenvastlymoreeffective。

ThisbriefexcursionintoRuskin\'sworkhasbeennecessary,firstinordertomakeproperacknowledgementofthesoundscientificinstinctofthisgreatpioneerofsocialthought,and,secondly,tomakeitclearthat,whileacceptinghisstandardofvaluation,wedonotproposeapplyingitoutsidetherangeofeconomicphenomenaintheordinaryacceptationofthatterm。Whileadmittingtheoverlappingandinteractionofeconomicandotherhumanfunctions,weshallaccepttheordinarydefinitionoftheboundariesofeconomicstudies,andshallseektomakeourhumansurveyandapplyourhumanvaluationwithintheselimits。Theextra-economicimplicationswhichtheunityoflifewilldisclosecannot,indeed,beignored,buttheywillbetreatedassupplementarytothemainpurpose,thatofvaluingtheprocessesdirectlyconnectedwiththegettingandspendingofmoneyincomes。

§;7。Insettingupavitalstandardofvaluation,wearelikelytobemetwiththeobjectionsthatlifeistoovague,toochanging,tooincomprehensibleforanystandard,andthatlifeisnotvaluableinitselfbutbecauseofcertainqualitieswhichitmaypossess。Ourstandardmustbeconceivedintermsofalifethatisgoodordesirable。Thisconsiderationmightevidentlyleadusfarafield。Ifwearetoundertakeavaluationoflifeasapreliminarytovaluingindustry,itislikelythatwemayneverapproachthesecondundertaking。Thebestescapefromthispredicamentistostartfromsomegenerallyacceptedconceptwhichindicates,evenifitdoesnotexpressfully,thedesirableinlife。SuchatermItaketobe\'organicwelfare。\'Thoughinformameresynonymforgoodlife,itisbyusagebothmorerestrictedandmoreprecise。Itperhapsappearstothrustintotheforefrontofconsiderationthephysicalbasisoflife。

Buttheorganicconcept,whenliberallyinterpretedandapplied,carriesnosuchrestrictiveimplication,anditsdistinctivelybiologicalassociationshouldnotruleitoutfromtheworkofwidervaluationhererequired。

Asaprovisionalstatementofourstandardofvaluation,\'organicwelfare\'

hastwoadvantages。Inthefirstplace,itsuppliesanadmittedlysoundmethodofestimatingthosephysicalcostsandutilitieswithwhichthemajorpartofindustryandofitsproductisassociated。Eveninthemostadvancedcivilisationofto-day,economicprocessesareprimarilyphysicalintheeffortstheyevokeandintheneedstheysatisfy;theexpenditureandrecoupmentofphysicalenergyconstitutethefirstandmostprominentaspectofindustry。Intracingtheoriginsofhumanindustry,weshallfindthisrootedinwhatappearashalf-instinctiveanimalfunctionsforthesatisfactionof\'organic\'needs,individualorracial。Theprimitivedirectionofproductiveeffortisevidently\'organic。\'

Again,the\'organic\'pointofviewavoidstwograveerrorscommontothemoremechanicaltreatmentofaneconomicsciencewhichhassubordinatedmantocommercialwealth。Itinsistsuponregardingtheproductiveeffortwhichgoesintoanyworkofproductionandthesatisfactionwhichproceedsfromtheconsumptionofanyproduct,notasaseparatecostandaseparateutility,butintheirtotalbearinguponthelifeoftheproducerorconsumer。

Themechanicalseparatismoftheordinaryeconomicviewfollowsfromatreatmentinwhichthelabourbestowedonaproductisonlya\'cost\'inthesamesenseastherawmaterialsandtoolsemployedinmakingit,allalikepurchasedasseparatecommoditiesatamarketinwhichtheyfigureasfractionsofaSupply。Similarlywiththeordinaryeconomictreatmentofconsumption。Eachconsumableisregardedasyieldingaqualityofutilityorsatisfactionvaluedonitsownaccount,whereasinrealityitsconsumablevaluedependsuponthewaysinwhichitaffectstheentireorganicprocessofconsumption。Everyspeeding-upofamachine-process,oreveryreductionofthehoursoflabour,affectsforgoodorevilboththeeconomicandthehumanefficiencyofthewholeman:everyriseorfallofremunerationforhislaboursimilarlyreactsuponthestandardoflife。Noristhisall。Currenteconomicsciencehasnotonlytreatedeachcostandeachutilityasaseparateitemorunitofeconomicpower,ithastreatedeachmanastwomen

producerandconsumer。Theacquiescenceintheeconomictendencytowardsaconstantlyincreasingspecialisationofmanasproducer,aconstantlyincreasinggeneralisationofmanasconsumer,isonlyintelligibleuponthesuppositionthattheartsofproductionandconsumptionhavenorelationtooneanother。5Thestandpointoforganicwelfarereducestoitsnaturallimitsthisusefuldistinctionofproducerandconsumer,andenablesustotracethetrueinteractionsofthetwoprocesses。Inaword,itobligesustovalueeveryactofproductionorconsumptionwithregardtoitsaggregateeffectuponthelifeandcharacteroftheagent。

§;8。Finally,a\'social\'interpretationofindustryisnotpossibleexceptbytreatingsocietyasanorganicstructure。Whethersocietyberegardedasan\'organism\'withalifeconceivedascomprisingandregulatingthelifeofitsindividuals,inthesamemannerasabiologicalorganismthatofitscells,orasan\'organisation\'contrivedbyindividualsentirelyforthefurtheranceoftheirprivateends,itmustbetreatedasavitalstructurecapableofworkingwellorworkingill。Isayvitalstructure,notspiritualstructure,forIholdthetendencytointerpretsocialorganisationexclusivelyintermsofethicalends,andasexistingsimplyfor\'therealisationofanethicalorder,\'tobeunwarranted。ThemenwhoformorconstituteaSociety,orwhoenteranysortofsocialorganisation,enterbodyandsoul,theycarryintoittheinseparablecharacteroftheorganiclife,withallthephysicalandspiritualactivitiesandpurposesitcontains。

Particularmodesofsocialorganisation,as,forexample,aChurch,maybetreatedasdirectedprimarilytospiritualends,thougheventheretheseparationisnotfinallyvalid。Butsocietyinthebroadersense,eventhoughconceivednotasan\'organism\'butmerelyasanorganisation,mustberegardedasexistingforvarioussortsofhumanpurposes。Fortheimpulsestoformsocietiesarerootedinbroadinstinctsofgregariousnessandofsexualandracialfeeling,whicharebestdescribedasorganic,and,thoughtheseinstinctsbecomespiritualisedandrationalisedwiththeprogressofthehumanmind,theyneverceasetocarryabiologicalimport。

Eventhoughonetakes,therefore,theextremelyindividualisticviewofSociety,regardingitasnothingmorethanasetofarrangementsforfurtheringthelifeofindividualmenandwomen,entirelyameansorinstrumentforachievingtheendsof\'personality,\'ourhumanvaluationofindustrywillrequireconsiderationofitsreactionsuponthestructureandworkingofthesesocialarrangements。

ButthisorganictreatmentofSocietyis,ofcourse,stillmoreessential,ifweconsidersocietynotmerelyasanumberofmenandwomenwithsocialinstinctsandsocialaspectsoftheirindividuallives,butasagroup-lifewithacollectivebody,acollectiveconsciousnessandwill,andcapableofrealisingacollectivevitalend。Thedispositiontoconvertsociologyintoastudy,ontheonehand,ofsocialfeelingsintheindividualman,ontheotherofsocialinstitutionsthatareonlyformsthroughwhichthesefeelingsexpressthemselves,istomymindawhollyinadequateconceptionofthescienceofSociety。Thestudyofthesocialvalueofindividualmennomoreconstitutessociologythanthestudyofcelllifeconstituteshumanphysiology。ArecognitionoftheindependentvalueofthegoodlifeofasocietyisessentialtoanyscienceorartofSociety。

ToaGreekoraRoman,theideathatthecityexistedmerelyfortheproductionofgoodcitizens,andwithoutanendorself

ofitsown,wouldneverhaveseemedplausible。

NortoanyChristian,familiarwiththeideaandthesentimentoftheChurchasasocietyofreligiousmenandwomen,woulditoccurthatsuchSocietyhadnolifeorpurposeotherthanthatcontainedinitsindividualmembers。Societymustthenbeconceived,notasasetofsocialrelations,butasacollectiveorganism,withlife,will,purpose,meaningofitsown,asdistinguishedfromthelife,will,purpose,meaning,oftheindividualmembersofit。Tothosewhoboggleattheextensionofthebiologicalterm\'organism\'tosociety,askingawkwardquestionsastothewhereaboutsofthesocialsensorium,andtheintegumentofasociety,Orwhetherapolitical,areligious,anindustrialSocietydonotconflictandoverlap,Iwouldreplythatthesedifficultiesaresuchasarisewheneveranextensionofboundariesoccursintheintellectualworld。Theconcept\'organism\'asappliedtothelifeofanimalsandvegetables,isnotwhollyappropriatetodescribethelifeofasociety,butitismoreappropriatethananyotherconcept,andsomeconceptmustbeapplied。

Ifsomequalificationisdesired,noobjectioncanberaisedagainstthetermsuper-organismexceptitslength。Whatisnecessaryisthatsometermshouldbeusedtoassistthemindinrealisingclearlythatalllifeproceedsbythecooperationofunitsworking,noteachforitsseparateself,butforawhole,andattainingtheirseparatewell-beingintheproperfunctioningofthatwhole。Asthestructureoftheorganiccell,theorgan,andtheorganismillustratethiscooperativeandcompositelife,sowiththelargergroupingswhichwecallsocieties。Ananimalorganismisasocietyofcells。

§;9。Sofarasthedifficultyarisingfromthenarrowlybiologicaluseofthetermorganismisconcerned,thatisrapidlydisappearingbeforetheadvanceofpsychology。Formodernbiologyiscomingmoreandmoretorealiseitsearlyerrorinseekingtoconfineitselftothestudyoflifeasamerelyphysicalphenomenon。Biologyandpsychologyareconstantlydrawingintocloserrelations,withtheresultthatanewscienceofpsycho-biologyisalreadycomingintobeing。Inbuilding,thusfar,uponafoundationoforganicconcepts,oneisnolongerproperlyexposedtothesuspicionofignoringordisparagingthepsychicalphenomenawhichconstituteman\'sspiritualnature。

Asbiology,thustreatingtheentireorganicnatureofman,becomesanindividualpsycho-physics,somustsociology,treatingthewiderorganicnatureofman,becomeacollectivepsychophysics。Whilethentherespectiveimportanceofthewelfareoftheindividualandofsocietymaystillbedifficulttodefine,theadmissionofsocietyasapsycho-physicalstructure,withhumanendsofitsown,willinvolveitsproperrecognitionintheappraisementofeverysortofhumanvalue。Ourtask,thatofdevisingamethodofvaluationofindustry,willevidentlydemandthateconomicprocessesshallbeconsidered,notonlyintheirbearinguponindividuallives,butintheirbearinguponthewelfareofsociety。Indeed,itisdifficulttoseehowanyreasonablepersoncanconfrontthegravepracticalproblemspresentedbytheindustrialsocietiesofto-day,suchasthosecontainedinindividual,class,sex,nationaldifferentiationofeconomicfunctions,withoutrealisingthatthehypothesisofhumanityasitselfacollectiveorganismcanalonefurnishanyhopeoftheirrationalsolution。

Thesignificanceoftheorganicconceptioninanyhumanvaluationofindustrialactsorproductsisevident。Itrequiresustovalueeachactorproductbothfromthestandpointoftheindividualandofthesocietytowhichhebelongs,anditfurnishesaharmonyofthetwoareasofinterest。

Thebafflingproblemseverywherepresentedtothoughtbytheapparentcontradictionoftheunityandthediversityofnature,thewholeandtheparts,thegeneralandtheparticular,findtheirclearestpracticalsolutioninthefactandconsciousnessofman\'ssocialnature,hisrecognitionthatinfeelingandinactionheisbothanindividualandamemberofanumberofsocialgroups,expandinginaseriesofconcentriccirclesfromfamilyandcitytohumanity,andindimmeroutlinetosomelargercosmicorganism。

Foroureconomicvaluation,theharmonyofthisnarrowerandwidertreatmentofhumannatureisofprofoundandobviousimportance。Itwillrequireus,inconsideringthevitalcostsandsatisfactionsinvolvedintheproductionandconsumptionofgoods,tohaveregardtotheireffects,notonlyupontheindividualswhoproduceandconsumethegoods,butuponthecity,nation,orothersocietytowhichtheybelong。Humanwelfarewillbenotmerelythewelfareofhumanbeingstakenasanaggregate,butofsocietyregardedasanorganicunity。

Themostdelicateeconomicandspiritualissuesofadjustmentwillbefoundtorelatetotheprovisionsforharmonisingtheorderandthegrowthofthenarrowerandthewiderorganisms。While,then,biologyhasinthepastbeentooarrogantinpressingdistinctivelyphysicalimplicationsoftheterm\'organism\'intothedawningscienceofsociology,andindistortingthetrueconceptionofsocialevolutionbyenforcingnarrowinterpretationsofselectionandsurvival,thisisnogroundforrefusingtoutilisetheterminologywhich,betterthananyother,expressestherelationsofpartstowholesineverysortoflivingsubstance。

ThecontradictionsofProductionandConsumption,CostandUtility,PhysicalandSpiritualWelfare,IndividualandSocialWelfare,allfindtheirlikeliestmodeofreconcilementandofharmonyinthetreatmentofsocietyasanorganism。

NOTES:

1。Labouremployedinproductiveworkofindustryisusuallyexcludedfromthecategoryofnational\'wealth,\'thoughitissometimesregardedas\'personalwealth\'。

Butthereisnosufficientreasonforthisexclusion。Anyincreaseoftheefficiencyofthelabourofanationisevidentlyasmuchanincreaseofitstotalvendibleresourcesasanincreaseinitsinstrumentalcapitalwouldbe。

2。Exchangeissimplyanordinarybranchofproduction,mainlyconsistingofwholesaleandretailtrade。Distributionhas,ofcourse,anotherandanimportanteconomicsignification,beingappliedtothelawsdeterminingtheapportionmentoftheproduct。

3。TheCommon-senseofPoliticalEconomy。

4。MuneraPulveris,§;XL。

5。Howpotentasourceofintellectualconfusionthisseparationofproducerandconsumeris,maybebestillustratedfromthecommonlyacceptedtreatmentofthetheoryoftaxation,whichregards\'consumers\'asadifferentclassofbeingsfrom\'producers\'forpurposesofincidenceoftaxes。

NOTE。Therearedoubtlessthosewhowillremaindissatisfiedwiththisinsistenceupontheextensionoforganismandtheconceptionofthehumanlydesirableintermsof\'organic\'welfare。Theywouldinsistthattheconsciouspersonalityofanindividualorofasocietytranscendsorganism,asthelatterdoesmechanism,andthatourstandardandmeasureofwelfareshouldbeexpressedinpsychicaltermsofpersonality。ThispointofviewhasrecentlybeenconciselyandpowerfullyrestatedbyDr。Haldane(Mechanism,LifeandPersonality)。Butthoughthereismuchtosayfortreatingpersonalityastheintrinsicqualityofourhumaniststandard,Idecidedagainstthecourseonabalanceofintellectualexpediency,preferringtoretaintheclearnessandforceoftheorganicconceptwhilespiritualisingittomeettherequirementsofascendinglife。CHAPTERII:THEHUMANORIGINSOF

INDUSTRY

§;1。Althoughitisnopartofmypurposetoendeavourtosetforththefactsandlawsofthehistoricalevolutionofmodernindustry,itwillbeusefultomakesomebriefallusiontotheoriginsofindustryandproperty,soastogiveconcretemeaningtothestresslaiduponorganicprocessesinourinterpretation。Forjustinproportionasitisrealisedthatindustryhasallitsearliestrootsintheprimaryorganicneedsofman,willassentmoreeasilybegiventotheproposaltoadheretotheorganicconceptionofwelfareinvaluingmoderneconomicprocesses。

Itisnoteasytoascertainwheretheactivitieswhichwetermindustrialfirstemergeintheevolutionoforganiclife。Everyorganismselects,appropriates,andassimilatesmatterfromitsenvironment,inordertoprovideforgrowthorwasteoftissueandenergygivenoutinthegeneralcourseofitsvitalprocesses,includingtheactivitiesofprocuringfood,protectionagainstorganicorinorganicdangers,andthegeneration,rearing,andprotectionofoffspring。Nutritionandfunctionarethetermsusuallyappliedtodescribetheprimarybalanceofthevitalprocessesofintakingandoutputtingenergy。Theorganismfeedsitselfinordertowork。Itseemsatfirstasifwehadherelaiddownintheoriginsoforganiclifeanaturaleconomyofproductionandconsumption。Butdotheorganicprocessesoffeeding,choosing,appropriating,andassimilatingfood,constituteconsumption,anddotheotheractivitiesforwhichfoodisutilisedconstituteproduction?

Reflectionwillshowthatthereisverylittleintellectualserviceinpressingsharplythisdistinction。Theactivelifeofanorganismconsistsinaroundofnutritive,protective,generativeprocesses,eachofwhich,fromthestandpointofindividualandspecies,mayberegardedalikeasproductiveandconsumptive。Aplantdrivesitssuckersintothesoilinsearchofthefoodsitneeds,disposesitsleavestoutilisethelightandairorforprotectionagainstthewind,assimilatesitsorganicfoodbytheuseofitsstockofchlorophyl,distributesitthroughoutitssystemformaintenanceandgrowth,anddirectsthatgrowthsoastosafeguarditsownexistenceandtoprovideitselfwithfavourableopportunitiesoffertilisationbyinsectorotheragencies。Ifdueaccountbetakenbothofthecellularlifewithintheindividualandofthespecificlifeofthisplantorganism,thewholeoftheprocessesoractivitiesappearstobenutritive,eachactofnutritionbeingassociatedwithsomeotherfunctionintheevolutionofthecell,theorganism,thespecies。Itwouldbeasplausibletoassertthateveryotherfunction,protective,generative,orother,wasundertakenforthenutritionoftheindividualorthespecies,astoasserttheopposite。But,withoutenteringintothedelicatemetaphysicsofthisquestion,wemayconfidentlyaffirmthatinthiselementaryorganiclifenutritionandfunctioncannotberegardedasmutuallyexclusiveprocesses,whiletheeconomiccontrastsofproductionandconsumption,workandenjoyment,costandutility,havenoclearapplication。Ifweapproachastagenearertohumanlife,webegintofind,inthelifeofeitherthelowerorhigheranimals,someorganicactivitiestowhichthetermindustryappearsapplicable。

Thelong,arduous,complexandpainfuloutputofenergy,consciouslyputforthbymanyanimalsinthesearchforfood,sometimesinthestorageoffood,intheprovisionofshelter,insomeinstancesintheuseoftoolsorweapons,inprocessesofcooperationanddivisionoflabourformigration,protection,orcombat,certainlyapproacheswhatwerecogniseasindustry。

Itinvolvesapainstakinginterferencewiththematerialenvironmentforthepurposiveattainmentofsomedistinctobjectconsciouslyregardedasdesirable,whichisoftheessenceofindustry。Itmay,however,beobjectedthatsuchprocesses,thoughresemblinghumanindustryintheintricacyandtechnicalskillinvolved,arenotreallypurposiveintherationalsense,butaremerelyinstinctive,andthat,assuch,theyoughttobedistinguishedfromtherationalconductofhumanindustry。Thus,itiscontendedthat,thoughtheeffortsgivenoutbymanyanimalsinprocuringfood,protectionagainstenemies,orprovisionofshelter,formallycorrespondwithfamiliarprocessesofhumanindustry,thedirectionofinstinctmakestheapplicationofthistermimproper。But,asweproceedfurtherintoourpsychologicalanalysisofhumanwork,weshallfindsolargeanelementofadmittedinstinctinmanyformsofitastoprecludeusfromadmittingthat\'rational\'directionisessentialtoindustry。Itis,therefore,permissibleforustogiveaprovisionalrecognitiontosuchanimalactivitiesascontainingsome,atanyrate,oftheessentialcharacteristicsof\'work\'or\'industry\'。

Indeed,theevidentresemblanceoftheseregularactivitiesofanimalsinseekingfood,shelterandprotection,totheactivitiesofprimitivemanappliedtothesamedefinitelyorganicsatisfactions,wouldprecludeusfromdenyingtotheloweranimalswhatwemustadmitinthecaseofmen。For,eveninprimitivemen,possessingacertainuseoftoolsandweapons,andahigherdegreeofcunningindealingwiththeirenvironment,thedriveanddirectionoforganicinstinctsandimpulses,asdistinguishedfromreflectionandreason,appeartobehardlylessdominantthanintheiranimalkindred。Unlesswearbitrarilyreservetheconceptsworkandindustryforahigherstageofsocialevolution,inwhichsomemeasureofsettledlifewithtribalandpersonalpropertyandcalculatedprovisionforfuturewantshaveemerged,itwillbewelltoseektherootsoftheelaboratedindustrialsystemwhichwewishtointerpretintheserudimentaryandmainlyinstinctiveactivitiesofanimalsandsavagemen。

§;2。Inexaminingtheseorganicactivitieslyingatthebasisofhumanindustry,weshalllightattheoutsetupononefactofextremesignificance,viz。thattoeachoftheseorganicallyusefuleffortsNaturehasattachedsomedefinitephysical,orpsycho-physical,enjoyment。Hunting,fighting,mating,thecareandprotectionoftheyoung,indeedallactionswhichpossesswhatiscalled\'survivalvalue\'orbiologicalutility,areendowedwithapleasurebonusasabribefortheirperformance。Natureendowsmostorganicallyusefuleffortswithconcurrentenjoyment。

But,thoughinthese\'organicfunctions\'manyanimalsgiveoutagreatdealof\'laborious\'effort,commingledwithelementsofplayorofincipientart,asinthedancing,singinganddecorativeoperationsofbirds,tononeofthemistheword\'industry\'fullyapplicable。Wedonotseemtoenterthedefinitelyeconomicsphereuntilwefindanimalssufficientlyreasonabletointerfereinaconsciouswaywiththeirenvironment,fortolerablydistantends。For,thoughmuchindustrialproductionandconsumptionwillcontinuetobeeitherinstinctiveorautomaticintheiroperation,agrowingelementofconsciouspurposewillbecomeessentialtotheorderedconductofallindustrialprocesses。Theconsciousconceptionofmoredistantendsandthegrowingwillingnesstomakepresentsacrificesfortheirattainmentaretheplainestbadgesofthisindustrialprogress。Whenabeingisawareofthesepurposeshehasenteredarationaleconomy。

Asthismorerationaleconomyproceeds,themarkswhichdistinguishitfromapurelyinstinctiveorganiceconomybecomeevident。Theinstinctiveeconomyallowslittlescopeforindividualityoflife,thedominantdriveofits\'implicit\'purposeisspecific,i。e。,subservingthemaintenanceandevolutionofthespecies。Thespiritofthehiveinbee-lifeisthefullestexpressionofthissubservienceoftheindividuallifetothecorporatelifeandofthepresentgenerationtotheseriesofgenerationsconstitutingthespecificlife。Buteverywherethedominionofinstinctimpliestheabsorptionoftheindividuallifeinpromotingtheendsofthespecies:

successfulparenthoodistheprimaryworkoftheindividual。

Itmightalmostbesaidthatthedawnofreasonisthedawnofselfishness。

Forrationaleconomyinvolvesaconsciousrealisationoftheindividualself,withendsofitsowntobesecuredandwithopportunitiesforsecuringthem。Theearliestconceptionofthisseparateselfanditsendswillnaturallytendtobeintermsofmerelyormainlyphysicalsatisfaction。Thusthedisplacementoftheinstinctivebytherationaleconomyisevidentlyacriticalera,attendedwithgraverisksduetothetendencytowardsanover-assertionoftheindividualselfandaconsequentweakeningoftheforcesmakingforspecificlife。Man,thenewlyconsciousindividual,mayperverselychoosetosquanderorganicresources\'intended\'bynaturefortheraceuponhisownpersonalpleasuresandneeds。Hemayrefusetomakeasamatterofrationalchoicethosepersonaleffortsandsacrificesforfamilyandracewhichnoanimal,subjecttothedriveofinstinct,isableto\'think\'ofrefusing。Suchmaybeaneffectofthereleasefromthelifeoforganicinstincts。Theincreasingsupplyoffoodsandothersourcesofphysicalsatisfactionhemayapplytobuildupforhimselfalifeofsuper-brutalhedonism。1For,whenreasonfirstbeginstoassertsupremacy,itisapttobecomethralltothepurelyanimalself。Onlyasthisanimalselfbecomesspiritualisedandsocialised,doesthesocialrace-lifereassertitsswayuponthehigherplaneofhumanconsciousness。

§;3。Butitisofimportancetorealisethatafirsteffectofreason,operatingtodirectthepurposiveactivities,istoliberatethe\'self\'fromthedominionofthespecificlife,andtoenableittoseekandobtainseparatepersonalsatisfactions。Forwiththispowercomesthefactandthesenseof\'personalproperty\'whichplaysolargeapartinindustry。

Earlyindustryandearlypropertyarelargelydirectedbytherequirementsofthisdawningsenseofpersonality。Thoughtheoriginsofindustryaredoubtlessfoundinthepromptingsoforganicutility,theyarenotofanarrowly\'utilitarian\'character。Wedonotfindtheearliestindustriesofmancloselyconfinedtothesatisfactionofwhatmightseemthemosturgentofhisorganicneeds,food,shelter,protectionagainstenemies。

Theelementsofplayandornamentaresoprevalentinearlyindustriesastosuggestthetheory,whichsomeanthropologistspressfar,thatadornmentforpersonalgloryisthedominantoriginofindustryandproperty。So,forexample,Bü;cher2contendsthattheearliestreallyindustrialactivitieswereapaintingandtatooingofthebody,andamanufactureofclothingandofotherpersonalapparatusforpurelyornamentalpurposes。

Eventhetamingofdomesticanimalswas,heheld,firstundertakenforamusementorfortheworshipofthegods。Thestrongattractionofmostsavageorbackwardpeoplesinourdaytowardsarticlesofornamentandplaywhichaffordexpressiontonaivepersonalpride,appearstosupportthisview。Primitivemancertainlydoesnotevolvetowardsindustrialcivilisationbyalogicallysaneeconomyofsatisfyingfirsthismostvitallyimportantmaterialneeds,andthenbuildingonthisfoundationasuperstructureofconveniences,comfortsandluxuries,withthevariousindustriesappertainingthereto。Thiseconomicmanisnowherefound。Actualman,asmanyanthropologistsdepicthim,appearstobeginwiththeluxuriesanddispenseswiththeconveniences。

Thisnon-utilitarianviewoftheoriginsofindustryhas,however,beendriventoexcess。Thereremainsalargeelementoftruthintheproverb\'Necessityisthemotherofinvention。\'Theearliestweaponsandtools,adaptedfromsticksandstonesandotherrawmaterial,wereprobablyforcedonthedawningintelligenceofmanbythehardfactsofhisstrugglewithhostilenatureandhissearchforfood。Fighting,hunting,mating,werepresumablyhisfirstpursuitsandtheearlyartsorindustries,atanyrateonthemaleside,wouldbesubsidiarytothesepursuits。Anyorganisedprocessorhandlingofmatterwhichwouldmakehimabetterfighter,hunter,suitor,wouldbelikelytoemergeasacraftorindustry。Thisexplainstheapparentblendofutilitarianandnon-utilitarianorigins。Inpointoffact,mostoftheso-calledornamentalactivitiesandproductshavetheirevidentbiologicaluses。Theyarenotmereplaythings。Theadornmentofthehumanbody,theuseoftatoosandmasks,drumsandgongsandotherplay-products,arepartly,nodoubt,formeregloryofself-assertion,itselfaninstinctivecraving,butalsoforcourtship,forrecognitionandforfrighteningenemies。While,then,itremainstruethatthesportiveandartisticimpulsesareconspicuousintheearlycrafts,itisamistaketodisparagetheorganicutilityoftheseprocesses。Aftermanhasmadeprovisionforthepresentnecessitiesofthebody,hissuperfluousenergynaturallytends,eithertopreparatoryplay,thepracticeorimitationofbiologicallyusefulactions,orelsetoexplorative,constructive,anddecorativeworkinhandlingsuchmaterialsaspresentthemselves。Thiscuriosityabouthissurroundings,andtheinstinctivedesiretoconstructandarrangethemforhisconvenience,orforthedawningaestheticsatisfactionofhissenses,ortoimpressthefemaleofhisrace,theseinstinctsundeniablycoalescewiththedriveofphysicalnecessitytoforcemantoapplyhismindtothediscoveryandpracticeoftheearlyartsandcrafts。

But,thoughthesedistinctivelymalemodesofmanipulatingtheenvironmentthuspossessautilitarianaspect,theydonotfurnishthebeginningsofthechiefindustrieswhichfigureincivilisedlife。Thebeginningsofmanufactureandofagriculture,asregularoccupations,arecommonlyascribedtowomenandtoslaves。Thosewhoconceiveoftheearliesthumansocietiesasmatriarchalorgynaecocentric,thewomenformingfixedcentresoforderinthehomeandvillage,owningthechildrenandthepropertyattachedtothehome,regardwomenbothastheinventorsandthepractitionersoftheearlyhandicrafts,includingthecultivationofthesoil。Thebeginningsoftheartsofpottery,basket-making,building,clothes-making,aswellasdigging,planting,millingandotherprocessesofpreparingfood,weredoubtlesswomen\'sworkinthefirstinstance,thoughtheywereprobablyraisedtothepositionofregularindustrieswhenslaverybecamecommon。

Itis,however,noteworthythat,eveninthoseearlyhandicraftsdevotedtothemostpracticalneedsoflife,thedecorativeinstinctgenerallyfindsexpression。Notonlytheweaponsofthemen,butthepotsandpansandotherdomesticutensilsofthewomen,carrycarvingsormouldings,whichtestifytotheplayorartimpulses。Leisureandpleasurethusappearasingredientsintheearliestindustries。

Towhateversource,then,wetracetheoriginsofindustry,totheuseofweapons,snaresandothermaleapparatusforthefightandhunt,totheinstinctsofplay,imitationandadornmentasmodesofself-expressionandofpride,ortothemoredistinctivelyutilitarianworkofwomenandofslavesaroundthehome,wefindplayorpleasuremingledwiththework。

Thisprofoundlyinterestingtruthisattestedbythelongsurvivingpresenceofthesongandotherrhythmicactivitiesinmanyformsofassociatedlabour,aswellasinthedancingwhichinprimitivesocietieswasanalmostinvariableaccompanimentofallimportantenterprises,war,huntingandharvesting,andwhichstillsurvivesamongusintheHarvesthome。Thoughinslaveindustriesthislighterelementdoubtlessdwindledverylow,itseldomdiedoutentirely,asthesongofthegalley-rowers,oroftheSouthernnegroesinthecotton-fields,testifies。WherethehandicraftsthroveamongfreemeninEurope,everywherethemotivesofplay,personalprideandprowess,findliberalexpressioninindustry。

§;4。Thisslightandnecessarilyspeculativesketchoftheoriginofindustryisdesignedtoenforcetwofacts。Inthefirstplace,wecantraceineveryrudimentaryindustrythepromptingsofvitalutility,layingthefoundationsofaneconomyofeffortsandsatisfactionswhichfurtherstheorganicdevelopmentoftheindividualandtherace。Inthesecondplace,weeverywherefindwhatwecalldistinctivelyeconomicmotivesandactivitiesalmostinextricablyintertwined,orevenfused,withothermotivesandactivities,sportive,artistic,religious,socialandpolitical。Totracethehistoryoftheprocessbywhichinmoderncivilisationeconomicorindustrialactivitieshaveseparatedthemselvesfromotheractivities,assumingmoreandmoredominance,untiltheindustrialSystemandtheBusinessManhavebecomethemostpotentfactsoflife,wouldliebeyondourscope。

Norisitatallnecessary。Whatisimportantforustorealise,however,isthatthisprocessofindustrialisation,throughwhichthecivilisedpeopleshavebeenpassing,isbeyondallquestionthemostpowerfulinstrumentofeducation。Itappearstohavedonemoretorationaliseandtosocialisementhanallthehigherandmorespiritualinstitutionsofman,sofarassuchcomparisonsarepossible。Ithasrationalisedmanchieflybycompellinghimtoexerciseforesightandforethought,tosubduehiswillandtrainhisactivefacultiestotheperformanceoflongandintrinsicallydisagreeabletasks,inordertorealisesomemoreandmoredistantobjectofdesire,andbyobliginghimtorecognisetherigorouslawsofcausationinhiscalculations。Ithassocialisedhimbyweavinganevermoreelaboratetissueofcommoninterestsbetweenhimandagrowingnumberofhisfellowmen,andbycompellinghimtoengageincloserco-operationwiththemfortheattainmentofhisends。Thoughthissocialisationisfarmoreadvancedinobjectivefactthaninthoughtandfeeling,itremainstruethatthedirectandindirectassociationoflargerandmorevariousbodiesormeninmodernindustryandcommerceisthefirstconditionandthestrongeststimulustotheexpansionandintensificationofthesocialwill。

Itisthisorderlyrationalsystemofindustry,employing,asitdoes,theorganicpowersofmanforthesatisfactionofhisorganicneeds,thatweseektosubmittovaluation。

Theimmensevarietyandcomplexityoftheartsandcraftsofwhichsuchasystemofhumanindustryconsists,thelongintervaloftimewhichoftenintervenesbetweenactsofproductionandofconsumption,thedifferencesofpersonalitybetweenthosewhoperformtheeffortsofproductionandthosewhoutiliseorenjoythefruitsofthoseeffortsinconsumption,immenselyremoteastheyappearfromthesimpleorganiceconomyofprimitiveman,donotescapeanultimatedependenceuponorganiclawsandconditions。

Ahumanvaluation,therefore,mustinsistuponexpressingthemintermsoforganicwelfare,individualandsocial。Ashumanactivitiesandenjoymentsascendintheprocesswetermcivilisation,weshallexpecttofindthisorganiclifebecomingmorepsychical,inthesensethattheirmodesaremore\'reasonable\'andtheemotionsthatattachtothemaremorespiritual,i。e。,lessdirectlydrivenbyanimalinstincts。Sotooweshallexpectindustrialprogresstocontributetoagrowingadjustmentbetweentheindividualandthesocialeconomy,restoringundertheformofreasonablesocialservicetothemorehighlyindividualisedmembersofamodernsocietyanincreasingmeasureofthatsubserviencetotheorganicwelfareofmankindwhichinstinctwasabletosecureuponalowerplaneofconsciouslife。

NOTES:

1。\'Einwenigbesserwü;rderlebenHä;ttstduihmnichtdenScheindesHimmelsLichtgegebenErnennt\'sVernunftundbraucht\'salleinNurthierischeralsjedesThierzusein。\'

2。IndustrialEvolution(Bell&;Co。)。CHAPTERIII:REALINCOME:COSTANDUTILITY

§;1。Approachingonitsconcretesidetheeconomicsystemthehumanvaluesofwhichweseektoascertain,wefindittoconsistinaseriesofproductiveprocessesbringingvariousgoodsandservicesintomarketableshape,accompaniedbyaseriesofconsumptiveprocessesinwhichthesegoodsandservicesareused,wasted,orotherwisedisposedofbythosewhobuythemforpersonaluses。Theformersetofprocesses,aswehaverecognised,occupyaplaceofsomuchgreaterprominenceandpublicityasvirtuallytoabsorbthescienceofindustryor\'economics\',leavingtotheprocessesofconsumptionanobscureandentirelysubordinateposition。

Ourorganicorhumanvaluationstartswithaprotestagainstthisassumptionofinequalityintheartsofproductionandconsumption。Itsinterpretationofeconomicprocesseswillbedisposedtolayasmuchstressuponthehistoryofthevariouscommoditiesaftertheyleavetheshop-counterandpassintothepossessionofconsumersasbefore。Thehumangoodandevilassociatedwitheconomic\'wealth\'must,viewedfromtheorganicstandpoint,dependasmuchuponthenatureofitsconsumptionasuponthenatureofitsproduction。

Thisconsiderationwilldetermineourmethodofapplyingthehumanstandardofvalues。Acceptingattheoutsettheconvenientdistinctionbetweentheprocessesofproductionandconsumption,weshallapproachtheeconomicsystematthepointwherethetwoprocessesmeet,thatistosaywherewealthemergesfromtheproductiveprocessesasincome,inordertopassassuchintothepossessionofpersonsentitledtoconsumeit。

Tomaketheenquirysimplerandmoreeasilyintelligible,wewillignoreforthepresentalltheextra-nationalorcosmopolitanconditionsofmodernindustry,andassumethatwearedealingwithaclosednationalsystemproducing,distributing,andconsumingthetwothousandmillionpounds\'

worthofgoodsandservicesroughlyestimatedtoconstitutethecurrentannualincomeoftheBritishnation。

§;2。Nowthehabitofregardingwealthandincomeintermsofmoneyissodeep-seatedandpersistentastomakeitdifficultforordinary\'business\'

mentorealisethesewordsinanyotherthanamonetarysense。Theordinarymindhastobreakthroughacertainbarrierofthoughtandfeelinginordereventopresenttoitselfthesignificanceof\'real\'wagesor\'real\'income,asdistinguishedfrommoneywagesandmoneyincome。Thisdominionofthemonetarystandardisillustratedbythealmostinstinctivethrillofelationthatisfeltwhenweareinformedthattheincomeofthenationhasrisenfromabout£;1,200,000,000in1870to£;2,000,000,000in1912。1

Soaccustomedarewetoregardmoneyasthemeasureofthedesirable,thatwefeelthatthisriseofmoneyincomemustimplyacorrespondingriseinnationalwelfare。Itrequiressomeeffortofmindtorealiseeventhetwoobviouslyimportantfactorsoftheincreaseofpopulationandtheshiftofprices,which,whenoncerealised,soevidentlyaffectthebearingofthemoneyincomeuponthenationalwelfare。Yearafteryeartradereportsandotherofficialdocuments,incomparingtherelativeeconomicpositionofthevariousnationsorthefluctuationsoftradewithinasinglenation,habituallyencouragethismisleadinginfluenceofthefinancialstandardbypublishingcrude,uncorrectedmonetaryvaluesasiftheywereindicativeofindustrialfacts,andstatesmentakesuchfiguresasvalidevidenceonwhichtobaseapolicy。

Asregardstheparticularobjectofourenquiry,thisobsessionofthegeneralindbythemonetarystandardmakesitimpossibleforuseventoassumethatallourleadersattachaclearandconsistentmeaningtotheterm\'real\'income。Itisnotquiteeasyatfirsttograspthecentralandessentialfactthateveryreceiptofanysortofincome,whetheraswages,rent,salary,interest,profit,feesorotherwise,involvesthecomingintobeingofabitof\'real\'incomeintheshapeofsomematerialgoodsorsomesaleableservice。2Thisfactoncegrasped,however,itbecomesevidentthatthe£;2,000,000,000,saidtobethenation\'sincome,ismerelythemonetaryrepresentativeofgoodsandserviceswhicharethenetproductoftheeconomicactivityoftheyear,thequantityofwealthproducedoverandabovethatwhichhasgonetomaintaintheexistingmaterialfabricofindustry。Theaggregateamountof\'wealthproduced\'is,ofcourse,considerablygreater,foralargequantityoftheproductivepowermustcontinuallybeemployedinrepairingthewearandtearsustainedbythematerialinstrumentsofproduction,theland,buildings,machineryandtoolsandotherformsof\'fixed\'capital,andinreplacingtherawmaterialsandotherformsof\'circulating\'capitalwhichhavepassedoutoftheproductiveprocessesintoconsumablegoods。Thenet\'real\'incomeconsistsofthegoodsandservicesproducedoverandabovethisprovisionforthemaintenanceofthematerialstructureofthesystem。

Thereis,however,animportantqualificationtothismodeofreckoningthenetrealincomeofthenationwhichneedsmention。Whiletheportionofthecurrentproductwhichgoestoreplacethiswearandtearoflandandcapitalisnotincludedinthegoodsandservicesrepresentedbythe£;2,000,000,000andclassedasrealnetincome,thewearandtearormaintenancefundoflabourisincludedinit。Whenconsiderationistakenofthedistributionofwhatisoftentermedthenationaldividendbetweentherespectiveownersofthefactorsofproduction,thisanomalyisseldomborneinmind。Inestimatingtheincomeoflabourthereplacementfundiscounted;inestimatingtheincomeoflandandcapitalitisnotcounted。But,illogicalasthisdiscriminationis,usagehassouniversallyaccepteditthatitwillbebestforusinaworknotchieflyconcernedwiththeproblemsofobjectivedistributiontogiveaprovisionalacceptancetoit。

Therealnetincome,ornationaldividend,correspondingtothe£;2,000,000,000,consistsofthegoodsandservicesatthedisposaloftherecipientsofthismoneyincome。Byapplyingeachsovereignastheyreceiveditinrent,wages,interest,profit,fees,etc。,topurchaseconsumablegoodsorservices,theymightconsumethewholeofitduringthecurrentyear。Inthatevent,thoughprovisionwouldhavebeenmadeforthebareupkeepofcapital,noprovisionwouldhavebeenmadeforitsenlargementorimprovementwithaviewtothefutureincreaseofproduction。Inpointoffact,thatprovisionismadebyapplyingaconsiderableportionofthenetmoneyincome,say£;300,000,000,todemand,notconsumablegoodsorservices,butmoreinstrumentsandmaterialsofproduction。Asthisprocessgoesoncontinuously,itimpliesthatsome3/20ofthetotalindustrialactivityofthenationisengagedinmakingnotconsumablebutnewcapitalgoods。3Thissavingprocesshasanimportantpsychologyofitsowntowhichweshallgivesomeattentionlateron。Atpresentitneedonlybeconsideredasareductioninthenetincomeofconsumablegoodsandservicesatthedisposalofaprogressivecommunityforcurrentuseandenjoyment。Thiswealth,actuallyavailableforcurrentuse,thefood,clothing,shelterandotherdomesticnecessariesandconveniences,thetravel,information,education,recreation,professional,officialanddomesticservices,thevarioussortsofmaterialandnon-materialcomfortsandluxuries,constitutingthecurrentnetrealincomeofconsumer\'sgoods,istheprimaryobjectofourvaluation。Thenewmachines,tools,buildings,materialsandotherformsofcapital,expressingthe£;300,000,000ofsavings,thoughenteringouranalysisuponthecostssideequallywithgoodsusedforimmediateconsumption,donotfiguredirectlyontheconsumptionside,butonlyindirectlyinthefutureconsumableswhichtheyassisttoproduce。

§;3。Butasregardstheapplicationofouranalysis,itmakesnorealdifferencewhetherwetakethenarrowerconnotationofthenationaldividendwhichincludesonlyconsumablegoods,orthebroaderonewhichincludessavings。Itwillnodoubteasilybeadmittedthatamerelypecuniarystatementofthe\'value\'ofthisdividendconveysnoreliableinformationastothehumanorvitalwelfareitinvolves。Makingdueallowanceforalltemporalorlocalvariationsofprice,thestatementthatthenationalincomehasdoubledinthelastcentury,oreventhattheincomeperheadofthepopulationhasdoubled,affordsnopositiveproofthatanyincreasehasbeenmadeinthenationalwelfare,muchlesshowmuchincrease。Unless,however,weadoptanattitudeofgeneralscepticismtowardstheeconomicstructureof\'civilisation\',wemayadmit,withProfessorPigou,4apresumptionthatagrowthofthenationaldividendfasterthanthegrowthofpopulationimpliessomeincreaseofwelfare。Buteventhatpresumptionmustbequalifiedbythereflectionthatitreallyrestsuponaviewofmarketablewealthwhichhasexclusiveregardtoitssupposedutilityinconsumptionwithoutanycorrespondingconsiderationofthecostofitsproduction。Apecuniarystatementofthenationaldividendwhichcontainednoinformationastothenatureofthegoodsandservicescomprisingit,mayberepudiatedoutofhandasuselessforourpurpose。Foruponsuchastatement£;1

\'worth\'of\'tradegin\'haspreciselythesamevalueas£;1\'worth\'

of\'bestbooks\'orofwholesomebread,£;1worthofhandmadelacesweatedoutofpeasantwomenatthecostoftheireyesighthaspreciselythesameweightinthemoneyincomeofthenationas£;1worthofcarpentryorofmedicalattendance。

§;4。Ifwearetoestimatethehumanvalueofagivennationalincome,itisevidentthatwemustsecureanswerstothreequestions。Wemustfirstlearnwhattheconcretegoodsandservicesarewhichconstitutethe\'real\'income,andthenwemusttracetheseconcretegoodsandservicesbackwardsthroughtheprocessesoftheirproductionandforwardthroughtheprocessesoftheirconsumption,inordertolearnthehumancostsandutilitieswhichattachtoeach。Theamountofhumanwealthor\'illth\'whicheachoftheseconcrete\'goods\'containshas,strictlyspeaking,noassignablerelationtothemoneyticketputuponitwhenitissold。Thatsumofhumanvaluecanonlybeworkedoutintermsoftheactualprocessesofproductionandconsumptionthroughwhichthe\'goods\'pass。Somestudentsofcurrentpoliticaleconomymayperhapsbedisposedtocavilatthiscriticism,insistingthatontheaveragethingsmustbesoldinproportiontothepainfulorotherwisedistastefuleffortsofproducingthem,orinproportiontothepleasantorotherwiseserviceablemodesoftheirconsumption。Ontheaverage,theywillcontend,arationalcalculusofpleasureandpainunderliestheoperationsoftheeconomicsystem。Thisposition,however,Iclaimtounderminebyshowing,firstthatthis\'rational\'calculusrestsuponassumptionsoffreechoiceandcompetitionwhichareunwarrantable,andsecondly,thatthisrationalcalculusofcurrentpleasuresandpains,sofarasitisoperative,isnotavalidcriterionofhumanwelfareasconceivedinthetermsoforganicwelfare。Ourtask,itmustberealised,isnotthatofreducingmonetaryvalues,ortheconcretegoodstowhichtheyrefer,totermsofaveragecurrentdesirability,buttotermsofthatdesirabilitycorrectedsoastoconformtothebest-approvedstandardofthedesirable。

Inaword,thedefectsofaveragecurrentestimatesanddesires,inpartcauses,inparteffectsofadefectiveindustrialeconomy,mustthemselvesbevaluedanddiscountedintermsofourhumanidealsofindividualandsociallife。

§;5。Withthisorganicstandard,thenatureandvalidityofwhichwillbecomeclearerwithuse,letussetaboutourtaskoffindingmethodsforassessingintermsofhumanvaluethestocksofconcretegoodsandserviceswhicharetherealnetincomeofthenation。Thehuman,asdistinguishedfromthemoneyandthe\'real\'dividend,willconsistoftheamountofvitalororganicwelfareconveyedintheproducingandconsumingprocessesforwhichthisconcreteincomestands。Whatwerequirethenistoapplysomesortofcalculusofhumancostandhumanutilitytotheseprocesses。Nowweareconfrontedattheoutsetbythepositionofaneconomicsciencewhichconceivesproductionentirelyintermsof\'cost\',consumptionentirelyintermsof\'utility\'。Indeed,theeconomicdoctrineofvaluehingesalmostentirelyuponthisantithesis。Foritismainlyowingtoits\'costs\'thatalimitofscarcityissetoneach\'supply,\'whileitisthe\'utility\'

accordedbyconsumersthatgiveseconomicforceandmeaningto\'demand\'。

Henceproductionisconceivedasaprocesswhichrollsupcostsintocommodities,consumptionasaprocessthatunrollsthemintoutilities。

打赏
回详情
上一章
下一章
目录
目录( 16
APP
手机阅读
扫码在手机端阅读
下载APP随时随地看
夜间
日间
设置
设置
阅读背景
正文字体
雅黑
宋体
楷书
字体大小
16
月票
打赏
已收藏
收藏
顶部
该章节是收费章节,需购买后方可阅读
我的账户:0金币
购买本章
免费
0金币
立即开通VIP免费看>
立即购买>
用礼物支持大大
  • 爱心猫粮
    1金币
  • 南瓜喵
    10金币
  • 喵喵玩具
    50金币
  • 喵喵毛线
    88金币
  • 喵喵项圈
    100金币
  • 喵喵手纸
    200金币
  • 喵喵跑车
    520金币
  • 喵喵别墅
    1314金币
投月票
  • 月票x1
  • 月票x2
  • 月票x3
  • 月票x5