by Sax
[Google Digitization and Usage Guidelines]: Standard Google Books introductory text in both English and German. It explains the digitization process of public domain works, copyright status, and the terms of service for non-commercial use, automated querying, and attribution. [Title Page and Publication Details]: Title page and library acquisition records for Emil Sax's 1884 work on the nature and tasks of national economics. Includes details on the author's position at the German Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague and the Wolcott Fund at Harvard College Library. [Vorwort (Preface)]: In the preface, Emil Sax explains that this work originated from his academic lectures and was initially intended for a journal. He discusses the fragmented state of national economics in 1884 and the urgent need for a solid theoretical and methodological foundation. He acknowledges the influence of contemporary Austrian economic research and emphasizes the importance of brevity and focus on fundamental principles rather than repetitive broadness. [Table of Contents and Introduction to the Reform of National Economy]: The segment begins with a table of contents and an introduction describing the current transformation of national economics. Sax argues that the old doctrines (classical school) are insufficient and that a new foundation is being built, influenced by the rise of social sciences. He critiques the historical school for reducing theory to history and mentions the impact of socialist critics. He identifies Carl Menger's work as a pivotal moment in establishing the exact method of social research and unifying disparate directions in the field. [The Essence and Definition of National Economy]: Sax explores the definition of 'Volkswirtschaft' (National Economy) as a branch of social science. He distinguishes between 'Technik' (the physical/natural process of production) and 'Ökonomie' (the teleological drive to achieve maximum life-enhancement with minimum effort). He defines the economy as a complex of social phenomena arising from the human drive for self-preservation and cultural development within a community, involving both divergent (competition) and convergent (cooperation) social relations. [Theoretical vs. Practical Science: The Dual Nature of Economics]: This section discusses the distinction between economics as a theoretical science (understanding what is) and a practical art or 'Kunstlehre' (determining what should be). Sax traces the historical development from cameralism to the classical school, critiquing the 'Manchester School' for conflating theoretical laws with absolute normative rules. He argues for a strict separation of theory from policy while acknowledging that practical policy must be 'historically-realistic' and context-dependent. [Methodology: Exact vs. Empirical Research]: Sax provides a deep dive into economic methodology, largely supporting Carl Menger's defense of the 'exact' method. He clarifies that the exact method is not 'unempirical' but uses abstraction to find universal laws (like atoms in physics). He discusses the limitations of quantitative measurement in psychological phenomena and suggests a combination of methods where empirical research provides the 'average measure' for complex social interactions where egoism and altruism overlap. [Individualism and Collectivism in Economic Analysis]: Sax analyzes the two fundamental social tendencies: Individualism and Collectivism. Individualism is subdivided into egoism (self-interest), mutualism (reciprocal interest), and altruism (charity/family). Collectivism represents the individual's absorption into a higher unity (the state or community). He argues that both are essential and that the state is not an external force but a manifestation of the collective drive. He critiques both pure Manchesterism (ignoring collectivism) and pure Socialism (ignoring individualism). [The Economic Nature of the State and Finance]: Sax argues for the inclusion of state activity and finance within the scope of economic theory, rather than treating them merely as external political interventions. He discusses the state as a 'collective economy' (Staatswirtschaft) that produces conditions for individual existence. He references Lorenz von Stein's organic theory and Schäffle's view of taxes as part of the distribution process. He concludes that the state's role is determined by economic necessity and the collective drive for development. [The System of Economic Arts (Oekonomik) and Political Economy]: Sax defines 'Oekonomik' as the practical art of economics, distinct from theoretical 'Oekonomie'. He divides it into Private Economics (industry, trade, banking) and Collective Economics (administration and finance). He distinguishes 'Wirtschaftspolitik' (economic policy) as the study of economic factors within the realm of power politics, emphasizing that while theory deals with universal laws, policy deals with the concrete application of means to ends in a political context. [Conclusion: The Future of Economic Research and Academic Instruction]: In the final section, Sax calls for a division of labor in both economic research and university teaching. He argues that the field has become too vast for a single scholar to master all branches (theory, policy, history, statistics). He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a connection between science and practical life (politics and business) but warns against science becoming a mere servant to political parties. The text ends with a plea for the independence and specialization of the discipline.
Standard Google Books introductory text in both English and German. It explains the digitization process of public domain works, copyright status, and the terms of service for non-commercial use, automated querying, and attribution.
Read full textTitle page and library acquisition records for Emil Sax's 1884 work on the nature and tasks of national economics. Includes details on the author's position at the German Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague and the Wolcott Fund at Harvard College Library.
Read full textIn the preface, Emil Sax explains that this work originated from his academic lectures and was initially intended for a journal. He discusses the fragmented state of national economics in 1884 and the urgent need for a solid theoretical and methodological foundation. He acknowledges the influence of contemporary Austrian economic research and emphasizes the importance of brevity and focus on fundamental principles rather than repetitive broadness.
Read full textThe segment begins with a table of contents and an introduction describing the current transformation of national economics. Sax argues that the old doctrines (classical school) are insufficient and that a new foundation is being built, influenced by the rise of social sciences. He critiques the historical school for reducing theory to history and mentions the impact of socialist critics. He identifies Carl Menger's work as a pivotal moment in establishing the exact method of social research and unifying disparate directions in the field.
Read full textSax explores the definition of 'Volkswirtschaft' (National Economy) as a branch of social science. He distinguishes between 'Technik' (the physical/natural process of production) and 'Ökonomie' (the teleological drive to achieve maximum life-enhancement with minimum effort). He defines the economy as a complex of social phenomena arising from the human drive for self-preservation and cultural development within a community, involving both divergent (competition) and convergent (cooperation) social relations.
Read full textThis section discusses the distinction between economics as a theoretical science (understanding what is) and a practical art or 'Kunstlehre' (determining what should be). Sax traces the historical development from cameralism to the classical school, critiquing the 'Manchester School' for conflating theoretical laws with absolute normative rules. He argues for a strict separation of theory from policy while acknowledging that practical policy must be 'historically-realistic' and context-dependent.
Read full textSax provides a deep dive into economic methodology, largely supporting Carl Menger's defense of the 'exact' method. He clarifies that the exact method is not 'unempirical' but uses abstraction to find universal laws (like atoms in physics). He discusses the limitations of quantitative measurement in psychological phenomena and suggests a combination of methods where empirical research provides the 'average measure' for complex social interactions where egoism and altruism overlap.
Read full textSax analyzes the two fundamental social tendencies: Individualism and Collectivism. Individualism is subdivided into egoism (self-interest), mutualism (reciprocal interest), and altruism (charity/family). Collectivism represents the individual's absorption into a higher unity (the state or community). He argues that both are essential and that the state is not an external force but a manifestation of the collective drive. He critiques both pure Manchesterism (ignoring collectivism) and pure Socialism (ignoring individualism).
Read full textSax argues for the inclusion of state activity and finance within the scope of economic theory, rather than treating them merely as external political interventions. He discusses the state as a 'collective economy' (Staatswirtschaft) that produces conditions for individual existence. He references Lorenz von Stein's organic theory and Schäffle's view of taxes as part of the distribution process. He concludes that the state's role is determined by economic necessity and the collective drive for development.
Read full textSax defines 'Oekonomik' as the practical art of economics, distinct from theoretical 'Oekonomie'. He divides it into Private Economics (industry, trade, banking) and Collective Economics (administration and finance). He distinguishes 'Wirtschaftspolitik' (economic policy) as the study of economic factors within the realm of power politics, emphasizing that while theory deals with universal laws, policy deals with the concrete application of means to ends in a political context.
Read full textIn the final section, Sax calls for a division of labor in both economic research and university teaching. He argues that the field has become too vast for a single scholar to master all branches (theory, policy, history, statistics). He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a connection between science and practical life (politics and business) but warns against science becoming a mere servant to political parties. The text ends with a plea for the independence and specialization of the discipline.
Read full text