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>From a short story published in 1845: 
 
"Mathematical axioms are *not* axioms of general truth. What is true  
of *relation* - of form and quantity - is often grossly false in regard to  
morals, for example. In this latter science it is very usually *un*true that  
the aggregated parts are equal to the whole. <...> In the consideration  
of motive it fails; for two motives, each of a given value, have not,  
necessarily, a value when united, equal to the sum of their values apart."  
 
The author seems to say that there is no necessity for U(x1, x2) =  
U(x1) + U(x2), which statement in no way refutes any mathematics, of  
course.   
 
The list members who would agree that the extract has some relevance  
to the history of economic thought are invited to another test of  
literarary erudition: Who is the author?   
 
Best wishes! 
Yuri  
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