Economics as Moral Science

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIV

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2. Introduction

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 1-5

3. Theory-Construction in Economic Science

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 6-29

4. Rationality, Values, and Economic Theory

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 30-36

5. The Intransigence of Evaluative Concepts

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 37-48

6. The Ethical Content of “Formal” Structures

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 49-78

7. Teleology and Utilitarian Economics

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 79-96

8. Functionalism and the “Systems Approach”

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 97-118

9. Reasons, Causes, and Economic Methodology

   • Bernard Hodgson

   Pages 119-140

10. Justification, Obligation, and Consumer Motivation

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 141-156

11. The Problems Related

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 157-171

12. Essential Statements and Holisitic Theory

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 172-190

13. Economic Uncertainty and Logical Structure

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 191-217

14. Economic Uncertainty and Consumer Autonomy

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 218-244

15. From Normative Theory to Empirical Science

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 245-261

16. Neo-classical Economics and Scientific Utopias

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 262-275

17. Neo-classical Economics and the Rational Justifiability of Moral Principles

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 276-304

18. Conclusion

    • Bernard Hodgson

    Pages 305-310

19. Back Matter

    Pages 311-382

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Economics as Moral Science investigates the problem of the ethical neutrality of "mainstream" economic theory within the context of the methodology of economics as a science. Against the conventional wisdom, the author argues that there are serious moral presuppositions to the theory, but that economics could still count as a scientific or rational form of inquiry. The basic questions addressed - the ethical implications of economics, its status as a scientific mode of theory-construction, and the relation between these factors - are absolutely fundamental ones for an understanding of contemporary economics, the philosophy of the human sciences, and our current market culture. Moreover, the study provides a thorough philosophical analysis of the critical issues at stake from the inside, from the credible perspective of a particular, but foundational economic theory - the neoclassical theory of rational choice.

• Economics
• Ethics
• Ethik
• Philosophy of Science
• Wirtschaftswissenschaft
• Wissenschaftsphilosophie
• autonomy
• morality

• Department of Philosophy, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada

  Bernard Hodgson

Policies and ethics