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  • © 2018

A.C. Pigou and the 'Marshallian' Thought Style

A Study in the Philosophy and Mathematics Underlying Cambridge Economics

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Argues that Pigou falls within the tradition of Marshallian economics
  • Examines the impact of Ludwik Fleck's sociology of science on the development of Pigou’s philosophy
  • Questions whether Pigou deviated from the Marshallian approach to economics in his mathematical The Theory of Employment
  • Clarifies his vision of the role of economics in society and the role of mathematics in economics

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in the History of Economic Thought (PHET)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvii
  2. A.C. Pigou and the Cambridge Tradition

    • Karen Lovejoy Knight
    Pages 1-18
  3. The Elusive A.C. Pigou

    • Karen Lovejoy Knight
    Pages 19-77
  4. The ‘Prof’ and Marshallian Economics

    • Karen Lovejoy Knight
    Pages 79-113
  5. Balancing the Material and the Ideal

    • Karen Lovejoy Knight
    Pages 151-204
  6. Mathematics and Formalism in Economic Theory

    • Karen Lovejoy Knight
    Pages 205-255
  7. Conclusion

    • Karen Lovejoy Knight
    Pages 257-262
  8. Back Matter

    Pages 263-316

About this book

This book provides a study of the forces underlying the development of economic thought at Cambridge University during the late nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. The primary lens it uses to do so is an examination of how Arthur Cecil Pigou’s thinking, heavily influenced by his predecessor, Alfred Marshall, evolved.

Aspects of Pigou’s context, biography and philosophical grounding are reconstructed and then situated within the framework of Ludwik Fleck’s philosophy of scientific knowledge, most notably by drawing on the notions of ‘thought styles’ and ‘thought collectives’. In this way, Knight provides a novel contribution to the history of Pigou's economic thought.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Independent Scholar, Duncraig, WA, Australia

    Karen Lovejoy Knight

About the author

Karen Lovejoy Knight is Economics Tutor and Sessional Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame, Western Australia and Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. She is also a business consultant and independent researcher. Her research interests lie in the history of economic thought, economic history, political economy, the sociology of scientific knowledge and philosophy.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access