Economics--Mathematical Politics Or Science of Diminishing Returns?"Economics will never be able to move beyond these vague predictions because it treats human behavior - individual and social - as the product of expectations and preferences - beliefs and desires - the variables that cannot be measured independently of the actual choices we want to predict. These factors, combined with the economist's commitment to the search for equilibrium solutions to theoretical problems, condemn economic theory to permanent predictive weakness. In the end, Rosenberg's analysis is not merely a critique. His aim is to redefine the scope and value of neoclassical theory, suggesting that its character and most important accomplishments need to be correctly understood to defend economics against the charge that it is a science of diminishing returns."--BOOK JACKET. |
Contents
CHAPTER | 1 |
The mutual constraints of goals theories and rules | 12 |
CHAPTER 2 | 21 |
CHAPTER 3 | 56 |
Neoclassical Economics as a Research Program | 87 |
Research programs and the demarcation problem | 96 |
Down the slippery slope to McCloskey | 107 |
CHAPTER 6 | 152 |
Generic predictions and the temptation of biology | 177 |
Darwin Friedman and Alchain | 183 |
Equilibrium and information in evolution and economics | 193 |
Conclusion | 199 |
What needs explanation? Can general equilibrium theory | 211 |
Are generic predictions enough after all? | 224 |
Bibliography | 255 |
| 261 | |
Other editions - View all
Economics--Mathematical Politics Or Science of Diminishing Returns? Alexander Rosenberg Limited preview - 1992 |
Economics--Mathematical Politics or Science of Diminishing Returns? Alexander Rosenberg No preview available - 1992 |
Common terms and phrases
actual adaptation aims Alexander Rosenberg approach argument assumptions Becker beliefs and desires biology brain Cambridge University Press ceteris paribus changes chapter claims cognitive constraints course demand discipline economic agents economic theory economists effect ence environment epistemology equi equilibrium analysis equilibrium theory Euclidean geometry evolution evolutionary theory explain explanatory fact folk psychology Friedman's hard core Hollis hypothesis ideal gas law identify important improve individual interpretation Keynesian knowledge Lakatos Lakatos's Lakatosian librium maximize McCloskey McCloskey's methodological rules microeconomic theory models natural neoclassical economics neoclassical theory nomic theory nomics ordinal utility phenomena philosophy of economics philosophy of science positivism positivist predictive power predictive success principle problem psychology question rational agents rational choice theory rational expectations reason research program result revealed preference rhetorical role social science stability strategy tastes theoretical theory of rational theory's tion utility function variables Weintraub