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Cover of Collected Works of John Stuart Mill

Edited by John M. Robson

Published: 1981
DOI: 10.4324/9780415480581
Set ISBN: 9780415480581

Set Contents

Principles of Political Economy with Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy Books I-II

Edited by
J. M. Robson

By
John Stuart Mill

the textual precision and inclusiveness of this edition of the Principles of Political Economy are due entirely to the intelligence and industry of the textual editor, Professor Robson, and it is only proper that he has written the second introduction, which is concerned with the successive changes in thought and exposition recorded in this edition, and which lays down the principles of textual criticism and procedure followed in preparing the text. It is my privilege to contribute an economist’s introduction to the Principles as a single complete work, rather than to deal with variations of text. I fully recognize the importance of the work of the textual editor and the value of this edition, but I must explain how different is my own approach. I welcomed an edition which would make the Principles in its final form readily available and easy to read because I believe that it is a living book which has present value and significance. The members of the editorial committee have emphasized always the importance of providing easy reading of the main text of the Works for those who want to ignore changes over successive editions, and I was glad to have this 7th edition of the Principles in such a form. I have always set a high value on the Ashley edition, and was anxious that its virtues should be retained in this edition. Ashley’s was not a fully collated edition: it did not meet the needs of the scholar trying to reconstruct the successive editions after 1848; but as a working edition for the modern economist it was superb. It indicated nearly all the textual changes of importance to the modern economist. I am proud that it was the work of the first professor of economics in this University and it is with some sentiment of filial piety that I, one of his successors in the Department of Political Economy, write this introduction.

Volume Contents

Front Matter
Introduction By V. W. Bladen
Mill’s Utilitarianism
Preface: [To all editions]
Principles of Political Economy
- The first folio of the text, from the MS in the Pierpont Morgan Library
- Preliminary Remarks
- Production
  - I
    
    Of the Requisites of Production
  - II
    
    Of Labour as an Agent of Production
  - III
    
    Of Unproductive Labour
  - IV
    
    Of Capital
  - V
    
    Fundamental Propositions Respecting Capital
  - VI
    
    a On Circulating and Fixed Capital
  - VII
    
    On What Depends the Degree of Productiveness of Productive Agents
  - VIII
    
    Of Co-operation, or the Combination of Labour
  - IX
    
    Of Production on a Large, and Production on a Small Scale
  - X
    
    Of the Law of the Increase of Labour
  - XI
    
    Of the Law of the Increase of Capital
  - XII
    
    Of the Law of the Increase of Production from Land
  - XIII
    
    Consequences of the Foregoing Laws
- Distribution
  - I
    
    Of Property
  - II
    
    The Same Subject Continued
  - III
    
    Of the Classes Among Whom the Produce Is Distributed
  - IV
    
    Of Competition, and Custom
  - V
    
    Of Slavery
  - VI
    
    Of Peasant Proprietors
  - VII
    
    Continuation of the Same Subject
  - VIII
    
    Of Metayers
  - IX
    
    Of Cottiers
  - X
    
    Means of Abolishing Cottier Tenancy
  - XI
    
    Of Wages
  - XII
    
    Of Popular Remedies for Low Wages
  - XIII
    
    The Remedies for Low Wages Further Considered
  - XIV
    
    Of the Differences of Wages in Different Employments
  - XV
    
    Of Profits
  - XVI
    
    Of Rent
  - Appendix: [To Book II]