Description
Book SynopsisThis major new study of the philosophical roots of economics examines the impact on eighteenth century economic thought of the rivalry between two opposing philosophical outlooks: rationalism and anti-rationalism. The economic thought of this period, William Coleman argues, was a synthesis of these two outlooks.
Rationalism and Anti-Rationalism in the Origins of Economics examines the history of this key intellectual debate from Locke, Leibniz and Mandeville, to Hume, Condillac, Turgot and Smith. This authoritative study offers new insights on the work of the eighteenth century rationalists and anti-rationalists and the impact they had on the development of economic thought and analysis.
Dr Coleman’s book addresses an intellectual conflict which remains relevant today. Neoclassical economics is frequently criticized because some of its assumptions, such as those concerning optimization, rationality and equilibrium, are rationalist in character. This important book explores the intellectual archaeology of this continuing controversy over neoclassical economics, and offers new perspectives drawn from the lessons of the past.
Trade Review’. . . I can strongly recommend this short book to anyone with a serious interest in eighteenth century economics.’Table of ContentsContents: 1. Introduction 2. The Philosophical Headwaters: Locke and Leibniz 3. The Divergent Streams: Dubos, Bernoulli and Maupertuis 4. The Empirical Optimists: Hutcheson and Mandeville 5. Hume and the Restoration of the A Priori 6. Condillac, Turgot and the ‘Classic Rule’ 7. Condillac, Turgot and the 8. Physiocracy and the First Crisis of Abstraction 9. Smith and the Impartial Synthesis 10. The Synthesis Dissolves Bibliography Index
