ABSTRACT
On the other hand, the science whose basic blueprint I tried to indicate in 1867-8, calling it a general theory of society, teaches us that man is at the same time both individual and State, that he has individual needs and so tries to attain a personal position, and collective needs, and thus tries to set up [266] social conditions. Moreover, in theory this science aims at telling us how to perform these operations and participate in their results. Now, Mr Giddings proposes to give the social science described above, as a moral and rational science, the name of Cœnonics (Cénonique), while leaving the name sociology for the descriptive and more or less naturali social science.2,ii
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I consider these denominations excellent, and am altogether convinced that economics and cœnonics must become equally important and rigorous as mechanics sooner or later. So I shall follow the way suggested to me and combine applied economics, i.e. the theory of industry, or the production of wealth, with pure economics, i.e. the theory of social wealth. I shall join with civil cœnonics, i.e. the theory of the family, political cœnonics, i.e. the theory of government, and economic cœnonics, i.e. the theory of property, or the distribution of the wealth. The elements of former political economy can thus be found in pure and applied economics and in economic cœnonics. However, in order to handle the transition with care, as well as adhering to what seems accepted, I shall still call the latter of these sciences by the name of social economics.
