Preface
Theoretical investigations in the field of political economy, particularly in Germany, have by no means progressed as yet to a true methodology of this science. Rather, the theoretical issues which occupy German economists, and to no small extent their non-German colleagues, revolve chiefly about the nature and the very concept of political economy and of its subdivisions, the nature of its truths, the matter of conceiving economic problems in such wise as to do justice to real conditions, and other such problems.
Book One: Economics as a Theoretical Science and Its Relationship to the Historical and Practical Economic Sciences
Relationship to the Historical and Practical
Economic Sciences
Chapter One: The Various Aspects of Research in the Field of National Economy
The contrast between the historical and the theoretical sciences in general and in particular between those of economy.—Nature and problems of the historical sciences of economy.—Nature, problems and significance of a theory of economy.—Nature and problems of the practical sciences of economy; their relation to theoretical economics and to the practice of economy.
Chapter Two: The Errors Which Result from the Failure to Recognize the Formal Nature of Theoretical Economics
Chapter Three: The Special Nature of Theoretical Knowledge in the Field of Economy Does Not Invalidate the Character of Economics as a Theoretical Science
Chapter Four: The Two Basic Orientations of Theoretical Research in General and of That in the Field of Economy in Particular
Chapter Five: The Relationship of the Exact Orientation of Research in the Field of the Social Sciences to the Realistic-Empirical Orientation
Chapter Six: The Theory that Economic Phenomena Are to Be Treated Only in Connection with the Total Social and Political Development of Nations
Chapter Seven: The Dogma of Self-Interest in Theoretical Economics and Its Position in Relation to the Theoretical Problems of the Latter
Chapter Eight: The Charge of “Atomism” in Theoretical Economics
