Economics and Reality'No reality please. We're economists'. There is a wide spread belief that modern economics is irrelevant to the understanding of the real world. In a controversial and original study, Tony Lawson argues that the root of this irrelevance is in the failure of economists to find methods and tools which are appropriate for the social world it addresses. |
Contents
ENDURING TENSIONS AS POINTS OF DEPARTURE 3581 | 11 |
THE CASE FOR TRANSCENDENTAL REALISM | 27 |
THE LEGACY OF POSITIVISM | 36 |
THE NATURE OF THE ARGUMENT | 43 |
TOWARDS A RICHER ONTOLOGY | 62 |
ECONOMETRICS | 69 |
ECONOMIC THEORY | 86 |
ALTERNATIVES ANDOR PRELIMINARIES | 108 |
BROAD OBJECTIVES AND POSSIBLE OBSTACLES | 191 |
ECONOMIC SCIENCE WITHOUT | 199 |
ABSTRACTION | 227 |
ON TRUTH IN ECONOMICS | 238 |
ILLUSTRATION | 247 |
ECONOMIC POLICY AND INTENDED CHANGE | 275 |
ECONOMIC SCIENCE AND PREDICTION | 282 |
Notes | 290 |
SUBJECTIVISM | 134 |
THE LIMITS OF CONTEMPORARY ECONOMICS | 152 |
A SKETCH OF THE ACTING SUBJECT | 174 |
Bibliography | 335 |
| 352 | |
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abstraction accepted achieved action activity actual agents analysis argument aspects assessment assumptions atomistic behaviour Bhaskar causal Chapter closure contemporary economics context contrast course critical realism deductivism deductivist demi-regs econometric econometricians Economic Methodology economic theory economists Edward Elgar elaborated empirical enquiry equilibrium event regularities example exist experimental experimental control explanation explanatory explicitly facilitate fact factors focus formulation generalised Hahn Hayek hermeneutic human agency ibid identified individuals interpreted intrinsic knowledge latter laws least Lucas Lucas critique mainstream economics mainstream economists mechanisms Menger methodological individualism methods models natural science objects observed ontology orthodox outcome particular perspective phenomenon philosophy position positivism positivist possible practices precisely prediction presupposes problems question rational rational expectations realism reality recognised relations relatively relevant rules scientific scientism scientists significant situation social realm social science social structure sort specific tendencies theoretical theorists things transcendental realist transformation understanding