IX. Natural Economic Laws—Ground Rent.
(In this chapter Engels proceeds to examine what Herr Duehring called the "fundamental laws" of his theory of economic science.)
Law No. i. The productivity of economic instruments, natural resources and human force are capable of being increased by invention and discovery."
We are amazed. Herr Duehring treats us like that joke of Moliere on the parvenu who was informed that he had talked prose all his life without being aware of it. That inventions and discoveries increase the productive force of labor in many cases (but in many cases not, as the patent records everywhere show) we have been for a long time aware.
Law No. II. "Division of Labor. The formation of branches of work and the splitting up of activities increases the productivity of labor."
As far as this is true it is a mere commonplace since the time of Adam Smith. How far it is true will appear in the third division of this work.
Law No. III. "Distance and transportation are the most important causes of the advance or hindrance of the organization of productive forces.
Law No. IV. The industrial state has incomparably greater capacity for population than the agricultural state.
Law No. V. "In economics only material interests count."
These are the natural laws on which Herr Duehring founds his new economics. He remains true to his philosophic methods.
(Hereupon Engels proceeds to the discussion of Duehring's opinions on ground-rent.)
