336 
JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
CONVERSAZIONE. 
(7th October, 188G.) 
For an account of this, see the Report of the Secretaries. 
NOTES ON DEDUCTIVE ECONOMICS AND 
INDIVIDUALISM. 
SYLLABUS OF LECTURE BY D. D. DOBELL. 
(Read 21st October, 1887.) 
The two logical methods pursued in regard to Political Economy. 
The inductive or historical method and its data. Its favour with 
modern Socialism. The abstract deductive method and its data. 
The deductive method more scientific. Admitted economic facts 
where the commercial spirit prevails. Generalization therefrom. 
Brief notice of the economic nature of capital, interest, profit, 
wages, cost of production, natural value, rent, price. Tendency 
of economic errors to produce offences against property, as well as 
to lessen the amount of wealth produced. Importance of Political 
Economy. Democracy the sovereign power. The leaders of 
unripe public opinion exercise the sovereignty. Sovereignty implies 
subjection. Instances of functions and limits of sovereignty. 
Some evils of over -government. Inestimable value of the 
English common law. Its growth. Its dependence on and security 
for freedom. Its support of individualism and the competition 
for wealth. Conclusion. 
