A Metaphysical Hypothesis

Abstract

T HE general objective of this paper is to state an hypothesis. This necessitates defining three particular words. The first word is science, meaning that type of mental activity which satisfies the following two conditions: (1) there must be orderly or systematic thinking and (2) there must be a definite subject-matter. The second word is presupposition, referring to the context in which a true or false proposition is stated. Presupposing is assuming (consciously or unconsciously) conditions necessary if the desired result is to be derived. An absolute presupposition is never subject to the question of truth or falsity as is a proposition. Science uses presuppositions as a basis for the derivation of logical effects and power to produce these logical effects does not depend upon the verifiability of the presuppositions. The third word is metaphysics, meaning here the discipline which concerns itself with the presuppositions underlying science. Metaphysics is an historical science in that its subject matter is the absolute presuppositions that have been made on certain past occasions.' Specifically the objective of this paper is to state a metaphysical hypothesis concerning the presuppositions of agricultural economics. It will be an historical statement of absolute presuppositions which have been and/or are being used by the students of agricultural economics. This hypothesis, just as any other, must meet the criterion of testability, i.e., it must be possible to specify the methods that one could use in substantiating or refuting the hypothesis. Verification of the hypothesis has important implications for the methods of research used in agricultural economics. A reference to social sciences is justified since agricultural economics is only one specific application of social science. As a dialectic example of the exposure of a presupposition, suppose for a moment that we were to confront an agricultural economist with the