The elder Keynes argues that almost every problem connected with the scope and method of political economy has given rise to conflict of opinion. The resulting controversies have sometimes been bitter. Those readers, who already have any acquaintance with the literature of economic method should be prepared to find that several of the chapters are controversial in character. At the same time, Keynes avoids the tone of a partisan and represents both sides of the argument without prejudice.While making no attempt to bring about a complete reconciliation between opposing views, Keynes shows the nature of the opposition between them has sometimes been misunderstood, and its extent consequently exaggerated. Since the scope and method of a science can never be satisfactorily discussed at the commencement of its study, some knowledge of political economy in its general outlines is assumed.The nature of the topics discussed in this classic is indicated in the introductory chapter. The abstract discussion of methods is one to which students of economics must necessarily give attention in the course of their reading, and its indirect bearing on the solution of practical economic questions is very close in contemporary importance in today's society.

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Excerpt from The Scope and Method of Political Economy The nature of the topics discussed in the following pages is sufficiently indicated in the introductory chapter, and a lengthy preface is therefore unnecessary. The abstract discussion of methods may appear to some to have mainly an academic interest, since it does not directly extend our knowledge of economic phenomena. Whilst, however, we ought to be upon our guard against allowing any such discussion to obscure the greater importance of actual economic investigations, the subject is one to which all students of economics must necessarily give some attention in the course of their reading, and its indirect bearing on the solution of practical economic questions is very far indeed from being without importance. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.