Abstract
Economics has raised such high hopes with its sophisticated techniques that the lack of agreed findings sets a puzzle. It will be suggested here that this lack of agreement reflects an epistemological puzzle, partly of how to recognize a causal law and partly of whether the search should be for causal laws in any case.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsBibliography
Chalmers, A.F. 1976. What is this thing called science? St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press.
Duhem, P. 1914. The aim and structure of physical theory, 1954. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Feyerabend, P.K. 1975. Against method: An outline of an anarchistic theory of knowledge. London: New Left Books.
Friedman, M. 1953. On the methodology of positive economics. In M. Friedman, Essays in positive economics, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Harré, R. 1972. The philosophies of science. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hayek.
Hayek, F.A. 1960. The constitution of liberty. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Hesse, M. 1980. Revolutions and reconstructions in the philosophy of science. Brighton: Harvester Press.
Kuhn, T.S. 1970. The structure of scientific revolutions, 2nd edn. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Lakatos, I. 1978. The methodology of scientific research programmes. In Philosophical papers, Vol. I, ed. J. Worral and G. Currie, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lipsey, R.G. 1980. Introduction to positive economics. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Popper, K.R. 1963. Conjectures and refutations: The growth of scientific knowledge. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Quine, W. 1961. Two dogmas of empiricism. In From a logical point of view, ed. W. Quine. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Rawls, J. 1971. A theory of justice. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
von Mises, L. 1949. Human action. London: William Hodge.
———. 1960. Epistemological problems of economics. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Weber, M. 1921. Economy and society, 1968. New York: Bedminster Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Copyright information
© 2018 Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Hargreaves-Heap, S., Hollis, M. (2018). Epistemological Issues in Economics. In: The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95189-5_113
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95189-5_113
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-95188-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-95189-5
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences