Economics and the Philosophy of Science

By Deborah A. Redman

Book Overview

Economists and other social scientists in this century have often supported economic arguments by referring to positions taken by philosophers of science. This important new book looks at the reliability of this practice and--in the process--provides economists, social scientists, and historians with the necessary background to discuss methodological matters with authority. Redman presents an accurate, critical, yet neutral survey of the modern philosophy of science from the Vienna Circle to the present, focusing particularly on logical positivism, sociological explanations of science (Polanyi, Fleck, Kuhn), the Popper family, and the history of science. She then deals with economic methodology in the twentieth century, looking at a wide range of methodological positions, especially those supported by positions from the philosophy of science.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195082745
• ISBN13: 9780195082746
• Release Date: May 1993
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Brilliant!

My review title really says it all. The book covers all the big names, gives an accurate account of their work, and yet is "economical" in style. This is definitely a first port of call for any budding economic methodologist, a valuable refresher for the elderly method-obessionist, and an excellent means of justifying the study of philosophical questions underpinning, if somewhat unconsciously sometimes, theoretical and applied economics (not to mention the other social sciences). All thinking economists should possess this book. (Unthinking economists will simply have to go the grave less confused AND less enlightened.)