按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
precisely equal minus。
Unhappily for the progress of the science of Political
Economy； the plus quantities； or； if I may be allowed to coin
an awkward plural the pluses； make a very positive and
venerable appearance in the world； so that every one is eager to
learn the science which produces results so magnificent； whereas
the minuses have； on the other hand； a tendency to retire into
back streets； and other places of shade； or even to get
themselves wholly and finally put out of sight in graves： which
renders the algebra of this science peculiar； and difficultly
legible； a large number of its negative signs being written by
the account…keeper in a kind of red ink； which starvation thins；
and makes strangely pale； or even quite invisible ink； for the
present。
The Science of Exchange； or； as I hear it has been proposed
to call it； of 〃Catallactics；〃 considered as one of gain； is；
therefore； simply nugatory； but considered as one of acquisition；
it is a very curious science； differing in its data and basis
from every other science known。 Thus： if I can exchange a
needle with a savage for a diamond； my power of doing so depends
either on the savage's ignorance of social arrangements in
Europe； or on his want of power to take advantage of them； by
selling the diamond to any one else for more needles。 If；
farther； I make the bargain as completely advantageous to myself
as possible； by giving to the savage a needle with no eye in it
（reaching； thus a sufficiently satisfactory type of the perfect
operation of catallactic science）； the advantage to me in the
entire transaction depends wholly upon the ignorance；
powerlessness； or heedlessness of the person dealt with。 Do away
with these； and catallactic advantage becomes impossible。 So far；
therefore； as the science of exchange relates to the advantage of
one of the exchanging persons only； it is founded on the
ignorance or incapacity of the opposite person。 Where these
vanish； it also vanishes。 It is therefore a science founded on
nescience； and an art founded on artlessness。 But all other
sciences and arts； except this； have for their object the doing
away with their opposite nescience and artlessness。 This science；
alone of sciences； must； by all available means； promulgate and
prolong its opposite nescience； otherwise the science itself is
impossible。 It is； therefore； peculiarly and alone the science of
darkness； probably a bastard science not by any means a divina
scientia； but one begotten of another father； that father who；
advising his children to turn stones into bread； is himself
employed in turning bread into stones； and who； if you ask a fish
of him （fish not being producible on his estate）； can but give
you a serpent。
The general law； then； respecting just or economical
exchange； is simply this： There must be advantage on both
sides （or if only advantage on one； at least no disadvantage on
the other） to the persons exchanging； and just payment for his
time； intelligence； and labour； to any intermediate person
effecting the transaction （commonly called a merchant）； and
whatever advantage there is on either side； and whatever pay is
given to the intermediate person； should be thoroughly known to
all concerned。 All attempt at concealment implies some practice
of the opposite； or undivine science； founded on nescience。
Whence another saying of the Jew merchant's 〃As a nail between
the stone joints； so doth sin stick fast between buying and
selling。〃 Which peculiar riveting of stone and timber； in men's
dealings with each other； is again set forth in the house which
was to be destroyed timber and stones together when
Zechariah's roll （more probably 〃curved sword〃） flew over it：
〃the curse that goeth forth over all the earth upon every one
that stealeth and holdeth himself guiltless；〃 instantly followed
by the vision of the Great Measure； the measure 〃of the
injustice of them in all the earth〃 （auti i adikia auton en pase
te ge）； with the weight of lead for its lid； and the woman； the
spirit of wickedness； within it； that is to say； Wickedness
hidden by Dulness； and formalized； outwardly； into ponderously
established cruelty。 〃 It shall be set upon its own base in the
land of Babel。〃 （23*）
I have hitherto carefully restricted myself； in speaking of
exchange； to the use of the term 〃advantage〃； but that term
includes two ideas； the advantage； namely； of getting what we
need； and that of getting what we wish for。 Three…fourths of the
demands existing in the world are romantic； founded on visions；
idealisms； hopes； and affections； and the regulation of the purse
is； in its essence； regulation of the imagination and the heart。
Hence； the right discussion of the nature of price is a very high
metaphysical and psychical problem； sometimes to be solved only
in a passionate manner； as by David in his counting the price of
the water of the well by the gate of Bethlehem； but its first
conditions are the following： The price of anything is the
quantity of labour given by the person desiring it； in order to
obtain possession of it。 This price depends on four variable
quantities。 A。 The quantity of wish the purchaser has for the
thing； opposed to a； the quantity of wish the seller has to keep
it。 B。 The quantity of labour the purchaser can afford； to obtain
the thing opposed to B； the quantity of labour the seller can
afford； to keep it。 These quantities are operative only in
excess； i。e。 the quantity of wish （A） means the quantity of wish
for this thing； above wish for other things； and the quantity of
work （B） means the quantity which can be spared to get this thing
from the quantity needed to get other things。
Phenomena of price； therefore； are intensely complex；
curious； and interesting too complex； however； to be examined
yet； every one of them； when traced far enough； showing itself at
last as a part of the bargain of the Poor of the Flock （or 〃flock
of slaughter〃）； 〃If ye think good； give ME my price； and if not；
forbear〃 Zech。 xi。 12； but as the price of everything is to be
calculated finally in labour； it is necessary to define the
nature of that standard。
Labour is the contest of the life of man with an opposite；
the term 〃life〃 including his intellect； soul； and physical
power； contending with question； difficulty； trial； or material
force。
Labour is of a higher or lower order； as it includes more or
fewer of the elements of life： and labour of good quality； in any
kind； includes always as much