It is certain that in their use of the deductive
method, economists do very frequently work from
positive assumptions not universally realised. Indeed
their premisses need to be varied in order to meet
different cases ; and this being so, it is clear that the
applicability of their conclusions must depend upon
circumstances. For instance, in dealing with problems
that relate to rent, certain conditions of land tenure
are assumed; and in treating monetary questions,
certain regulations as to coinage, legal tender, instru-
ments of credit, and so on, are supposed to be in force.
Again, in working out theories of wages, it is a not
unusual assumption that each grade of labour, or even
the workiag class as a whole, has its own definite
standard of comfort. Even those assumptions that
may be summed up under the general head of absence
of disturbing causes have a positive side. For the
relevancy of the argument, so far as the explanation



VII.] " HYPOTHETICAL " CHAEACTER OF ECONOMICS. 223

a-

of actual phenomena is concerned, requires that, as a
matter of fact, the causes, whose influence is neglected,
shall be strictly "disturbing" causes, and shall not exert
an influence so powerful as to reduce that of other
agencies to insignificance.
