University of Virginia Library

Political Economy and Science of Society.

Professor Holmes.

In this class there are two courses, each of three lectures a week throughout
the session. Political Economy will be prosecuted for the B. A., and Science of
Society for the M. A.

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, Marshall, etc.; and
the altered views propounded by Laveleye, Walker, and the school of the Cathedrists
and other German schools, are duly considered.

Text-Books.—Walker's Political Economy (advanced course); Mill's Political Economy
(abridged).

Science of Society.—In this is prosecuted the investigation of the laws
and movements, the growth, decay, and constitution of Societies, in the different
phases 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.

This Class is dependent on notes for the Lectures, as no text-book exists.

The Post-Graduate Course in this School, leading to the degree of
Ph. D., will be varied from year to year, but will always be designed to train
the student in original research and systematic exposition of the results. Special
topics will be studied, and such instructions and directions as may be required
to render the pursuit efficacious will be given throughout the session.