Epilogue

Finally, I want to consider what the basic ideas of my history-of-thought-oriented study are. I want to pose the question of the “significance” of this study. Publications of former writers should be seen in the context of the philosophies of their day, of the socioeconomic paradigms which were valid then, and of the topical social economic problems of the era, such as the urge for economic development and the need for social security. As such, these works possess their own significance. However, there is more to be said about the background of studies on the history of economic thought. Further to my remarks in Chapter 3, on the prima facie subject of the Historical School, I want to point out that approaches of the past, and the economic problems from then, are related to the modern method which should be followed, and the present-day problems which must be coped with. This gives an extra dimension to the subject matter. To a certain extent earlier scientific and political problems coincide with present topical problems in the same fields. Of course, present-day scientific and political pictures, with their emphasis on natural environment and resources, have a unique aspect also. New problems require new solutions, which should be more convincing than those inherited from the past.