Welfare Economics in English Utopias From Francis Bacon to Adam Smith by Fuz, J. K - 1952

The Hague, Nijhoff, 1952. vii,113 pp. Orig.boards Filosofie

The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1952. 1st Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. Folio - over 12 - 15" tall. Original cloth bdg. Roy. 8vo. (24 x 17 cm). In English. [8], 111 p. Welfare economics in English utopias from Francis Bacon to Adam Smith. The author is fully aware of the difficulties connected with an adequate treatment of this subject, in view of the general back­ ground of that fascinating age - the seventeenth century. The present work is simply a modest attempt to draw attention to some in many cases forgotten or disregarded Utopian writings and to show the long line of thought behind many concepts which, to the modern reader, may seem obvious truths.

The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1952. Very good.. Quarto, unopened, in blue boards; blind embossed printer's device on front board. First edition: an elegant monograph on utopia. This thesis on the development of economics in the English Utopia gives priority to key works such as Bacon's New Atlantis, but also includes chapters on less studied works such as Hartlib's Macaria and Mandeville's Fable of the Bees. In his attractive introduction to the subject, Fuz delineates the economic utopia, whilst alluding to the intangible impetus that utopian writing has provided. Thus, whilst critical of many of the individual works, throughout he is committed to his general statement: 'Utopia is a 'state of mind' and is necessary as an intellectual attitude, as a stimulus to further development or action; and it is always corrective of existing society.' Using this sophisticated sense of the utopia as stimulus rather than manifesto, he concludes 'In spite of their theoretical inconsistencies, the Utopians must… Read More