of Edinhurgh, Session 1883 - 84 . 
947 
exhaustive and satisfactory, its usefulness will really be to him none 
the less, since the synthesis which, through this analysis, we shall 
ultimately reach must coincide with his own, — thus constituting a 
brilliant independent verification such as is eagerly sought for in 
science, — and so establishing his position to the exclusion of all 
others. 
§ 9. At whatever labour, then, the economist must no longer shrink 
from acquainting himself with the preliminary sciences ; the common 
objection that he “ finds it laborious,” or that he “ cannot hope to 
become a specialist,” and the like, notwithstanding. But fortu- 
nately such alarm is groundless, for no specialist’s knowledge is 
required. It will be found in the sequel, that just as the most 
elementary, if clear, knowledge of mathematics, scarcely extending 
in algebra beyond simple equations, nor in geometry beyond the 
construction of rectangles and curves, is shown in statistical treatises 
to give a new precision and clearness to conceptions of economic 
quantity ; so a similarly rudimentary, if real, knowledge of physics 
and physiology — of the doctrines of the permanence of matter through 
transformation, of conservation and dissipation of energy, and of 
the functions of living organisms — will here serve for a commence- 
ment. Nor will more be postulated in the present work. 
The plan of the undertaking will now be readily understood; it 
is, in short, once more to prepare for the construction of a “ system 
of economics ” — not, however, by means of new definitions and old 
dialectic, nor by the deductive application of a few principles taken at 
random from an early state of some single science — but in harmony 
with the organic whole of the preliminary sciences ; using, as far as 
may be, such materials as after due refining economic literature 
may afford ; thereafter proceeding as far as possible by investiga- 
tion. It is necessary then, in the first place, to collect and arrange 
the materials for such a system by successively extricating from the 
vast mass of too discordant economic literature, and by observing 
as far as possible in actual society — first, the most important facts 
and generalisations of physical and chemical nature ; next, those 
essentially biological and psychological ; finally, those distinctively 
sociological — uniting this task of constructive criticism and new 
observation with such application of those respective sciences as 
may be possible. Thus principles of economics serviceable for the 
