This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... ARTICLE VIII. OF THE SUPPOSED IDENTITY OF THE CAUSES GIVING RISE TO INDIVIDUAL AND NATIONAL WEALTH.1 PART I.--WHEN ASSUMED AS A SELF-EVIDENT TRUTH. PART U.--WHEN DEDUCED FROM AN INGENIOUS THEORY. PART I. When wealth, considered in the general, is conceived to be a thing either so clear as to require no definition, or so simple as to be fully grasped by any definition, two different and opposing systems naturally seem to arise concerning it. The wealth of all the individuals in a state being, it may be said, of necessity measured by the amount of the national 1 [The title of Rae's first "Book " in the original edition was " Individual and National Interests are not Identical." The idea accords with bis leading concept on the side of man's association with his fellow men, which is that the sociological principle of the "social and benevolent affections" takes precedence over the purely economic principle of individual profit. The social virtues of the individual, embodying the "instincts of society," maximise prosperity through stimulating all the fundamental productive forces, and further the real, long-run, economic interests of the individual as well as those of the society. On the other hand, it is certain that the direct, short-sighted attempts of individuals (actuated by " isolation of thought and feeling ") to increase their advantage, often miss their aim as regards the individual, and cause loss to the social body as a whole. (Compare Article V.) There is, therefore, always room for efforts of society to compel its delinquent members to observe their real, long-run interests. But the argument elaborated in this and the foregoing Article, --that organized civil society is itself called upon to play the part of entrepreneur and be...