<P> The concept of marginal utility grew out of attempts by economists to explain the determination of price . The term "marginal utility", credited to the Austrian economist Friedrich von Wieser by Alfred Marshall, was a translation of Wieser's term "Grenznutzen" (border - use). </P> <P> Perhaps the essence of a notion of diminishing marginal utility can be found in Aristotle's Politics, wherein he writes </P> <P> external goods have a limit, like any other instrument, and all things useful are of such a nature that where there is too much of them they must either do harm, or at any rate be of no use </P> <P> (There has been marked disagreement about the development and role of marginal considerations in Aristotle's value theory .) </P>

What is the shape of marginal utility curve