Chapter VI: On the Economic Principle

TWO LETTERS TO PROFESSOR V. PARETO

I

Need for more comprehensive definition of the economic
principle: Reasons why the mechanical conception
erroneous, economic fact capable of appraisement: Cannot
be scale of values for particular action: Economic datum a
fact of human activity: Distinction and connection between
pleasure and choice: Economic datum a fact of will:
Knowledge a necessary presupposition of will: Distinction
between technical and economic: Analogy of logic and
æsthetic: Complete definition of economic datum 159

II

Disagreement (1) about method (2) postulates: (1) Nothing
arbitrary in economic method, analogy of classificatory
sciences erroneous: (2) Metaphysical postulate that facts
of human activity same as physical facts erroneous:
Definition of practical activity in so far as admits of
definition: Moral and economic activity and approval:
Economic and moral remorse: Economic scale of values 174

INDEX OF NAMES 187