In 1910 Harvard published 43 short bibliographies covering “Social Ethics and Allied Subjects”, about half of which were dedicated to particular topics in economics and economic sociology. The project was coordinated by Plummer Professor of Christian Morals, Francis G. Peabody.
The Economics of Socialism is one such “allied subject” covered in the bibliography provided by Professor Thomas Nixon Carver, and transcribed below along with links to digital copies of the items found at archive.org, hathitrust.org, as well as at other on-line archives.
Previously posted bibliographies from “Social Ethics and Allied Subjects”:
Economic Theory by Professor Frank Taussig
Taxation by Professor Charles J. Bullock
Trade Unionism by Professor William Z. Ripley
Social Insurance by Dr. Robert Franz Foerster
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From the Prefatory Note:
The present list represents an attempt to make this connection between the teaching of the University and a need of the modern world. Each compiler has had in mind, not a superficial reader, nor yet a learned scholar, but an intelligent and serious-minded student, who is willing to read substantial literature if it be commended to him as worth his while and is neither too voluminous nor too inaccessible. To such an inquirer each editor makes suggestions concerning the contents, spirit or doctrine of a book, not attempting a complete description or a final judgment, but as though answering the preliminary question of a student, “What kind of book is this?” The plan thus depends for its usefulness on the competency of the editors concerned, and each editor assumes responsibility for the section to which his name is prefixed.
Source: Prefatory Note by Francis G. Peabody. A Guide to Reading in Social Ethics and Allied Subjects, Lists of Books and Articles Selected and Described for the Use of General Readers. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, 1910, p. vi.
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IV.5. THE ECONOMICS OF SOCIALISM
THOMAS NIXON CARVER
I. UTOPIAS
A dialogue on justice, in which the philosopher pictures an ideal state.
A description of an ideal commonwealth, supposed to have been discovered on the coast of South America by one of the followers of Americus Vespucius.
A fragment.
A highly idealistic picture, sufficiently divorced from all appearances of reality to render it harmless.
Of special interest to Americans because the author led a group of colonists to the United States and established there a communistic society, first at Nauvoo, Ill., and later at Icaria, near Corning, Ia.
The first of a large crop of recent utopian works.
The most widely read in America of all the utopian works.
Probably the most hopelessly idealistic of all such works.
Probably the only utopian work since Plato’s “Republic” which frankly recognizes the population problem and tries to deal with it.
II. COMMUNISTIC EXPERIMENTS
The author was the founder of the Oneida community. He had put into his hands for editing and publication the manuscript of A. J. MacDonald, who had made a personal investigation of every communistic society then known to exist on American soil.
The latest and most authentic account of all the known communistic societies in America.
Written before the break-up of the Icarian community, from personal investigation and inspection.
Written just before the disintegration of the Zoar society, from personal investigation and observation.
III. HISTORY OF SOCIALISTIC DOCTRINES
The most readable account in English of the development of socialistic thought in continental Europe since the French revolution.
This work brings the subject down to a later period than does Ely’s account. It is also a more voluminous treatment.
Perhaps the most discriminating comparison of the two schools of socialism in France, where the dominant school would scarcely be recognized as socialistic by American and German socialists.
An exceedingly laudatory account, but instructive nevertheless.
A review of socialistic thought from Thomas More to the radicals of the French revolution.
Rather discursive, but gives a good idea of the present tendency of socialistic thought.
IV. IN ADVOCACY OF SOCIALISM
Includes under socialism a great deal which the Marxian socialist would reject.
The “bible of socialism.”
The beginning of the present type of socialist propaganda.
A series of essays by such writers as G. Bernard Shaw, Annie Besant, Graham Wallas and others.
By scientific socialism is meant the socialism of Karl Marx and his followers.
The author is the leader of the “higher critics” of the socialist school in Germany, which rejects much of the Marxian theory, while adhering to the social democratic program.
A collection of information about socialism. Apparently intended as a “campaign book” for socialist propagandists.
An attempt to reconstruct the economic basis of socialism. The author’s economic theories are erroneous, but they illustrate very well the kind of reasoning upon which socialists base their claims.
An excellent presentation, by a socialist of the more rational type, of the general theory of international socialism.
Probably the most authoritative statement, in popular form, of the immediate aims of American socialism.
Probably the only socialistic work since Marx’ “Capital” which seriously tries to lay the foundations of socialism on the recognized principles of economics. As Marx tried to build on the economics of Ricardo, Mackaye tries to build on the economics of the modern school.
Probably the best presentation of the actual working theory of Fabian or English socialism.
A daring and ingenious form of propagandism.
V. EXPOSITORY AND CRITICAL
Schäffle, Albert. The quintessence of socialism. Translated under supervision of Bernard Bosanquet. New: York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902, pp. viii, 127.
Perhaps the most thorough-going criticism to be found, but not easy to read.
This is a supplement to the “Quintessence of socialism.”
An eminently fair and sympathetic statement of the pros and cons.
Shows very clearly that Marx built on an antiquated system of economics.
A sympathetic study, contrasting Rodbertus with Marx, to the advantage of the former.
By “orthodox” socialism is meant the socialism of Karl Marx. The various tenets of the socialist creed are examined critically.
Source: Teachers in Harvard University, A Guide to Reading in Social Ethics and Allied Subjects, Lists of Books and Articles Selected and Described for the Use of General Readers. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University, 1910, pp. 167-173.
Image Source: Thomas Nixon Carver in the Harvard Class Album 1915.