The Place of Science in Modern Civilisation, and Other EssaysVeblen, Thorstein
Philosophy
The Place of Science in Modern Civilisation, and Other Essays
Veblen, Thorstein
Economics; Science
[5] Should the connection at this point with the main argument of the
paper as set forth in the earlier section seem doubtful or obscure, it
may be called to mind that these dubious enterprises in dissipation are
cases of investment for a profit, and that the "capital goods" engaged
are invested wealth yielding an income, but that they yield an income
only on the fulfillment of two conditions: (_a_) the possession and
employment of these capital goods enables their holder to turn to
account the common stock of technological proficiency, in those bearings
in which it may be of use in his enterprise; and (_b_) the limited
amount of wealth available for the purpose enables their holder to
"engross" the usufruct of such a fraction of the common stock of
technological proficiency, in the degree determined by this limitation
of the amount available. In so far, these enterprises are like any other
industrial enterprise; but beyond this they have the peculiarity that
they do not, or need not, even ostensibly, turn the current knowledge
and use of ways and means to "productive" account for the community at
large, but simply take their stand on the (institutionally sacred)
"accomplished fact" of invested wealth. They have less of the fog of
apology about them than the common run of business enterprise.
[6] This statement may not seem clear without indicating in a more
concrete manner some terms in which to measure the relative differential
advantage and disadvantage which so emerge in such a case of prerogative
or privilege. Where, as in the earlier, non-pecuniary phases of culture,
no price test is applicable, the statement in the text may be taken to
mean that the differential disadvantage at the cost of which the
differential benefit in question is gained is greater than the
beneficiary would be willing to undergo in order to procure this
benefit.
[7] A doubt has been offered as to the applicability of this
characterization to such intangible assets as a patent right and other
items of the same class. The doubt seems to arise from a misapprehension
of the analysis and of its intention. It should be remarked that there
is no intention to condemn or disapprove any of the items here spoken of
as intangible assets. The patent right may be justifiable or it may not:
there is no call to discuss that question here. Other intangible assets
are in the same case in this respect.
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