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SCIENCE OF SOCIETY.
Professor Holmes.
In this class there are two courses each extending over a half session.
Political Economy.—In the treatment of this department of knowledge,
there is no rigid adherence to the school of Smith, Ricardo, and Mill.
The modification of older doctrines, necessitated by the increase of productive
inventions and productive operations, is steadily regarded. Attention
is paid to the inquiries and criticisms of Thornton, Cairnes, Jevons,
etc.; and the altered views propounded by Laveleye, Walker, and the school
of the Cathedrists are duly considered.
Text books.—Walker's Political Economy (advanced course); Mill's Political Economy
(abridged).
Science of Society.—The latter half of the course in this class is
devoted to the Science of Society.
In this is prosecuted the investigation of the laws and movements, the
growth, decay, and constitution of Societies, in the different phaes and stages
of social development. The necessary organic functions of Society are
studied in their several forms. They are also regarded in their reciprocal
relations and in their conjoint action in successive forms of civilization. All
systems are interpreted; no ideal constitution is contemplated. The course
is descriptive of processes by which experienced results have been obtained,
not speculative in advocacy of theoretic dreams.
The Class is dependent on notes for the Lecture, as no text book exists.
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