Book contents
- The Inexact and Separate Science of Economics
- The Inexact and Separate Science of Economics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Introduction
- Part I Introduction: Content, Structure, and Strategy of Mainstream Economics
- Part II Theory Assessment
- 9 Inexactness in Economic Theory
- 10 Mill’s Deductive Method and the Assessment of Economic Hypotheses
- 11 Methodological Revolution
- 12 Karl Popper and Imre Lakatos
- 13 The Inexact Deductive Method
- 14 Casting off Dogmatism
- Part III Conclusion
- Appendix An Introduction to Philosophy of Science
- References
- Index
9 - Inexactness in Economic Theory
from Part II - Theory Assessment
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 May 2023
- The Inexact and Separate Science of Economics
- The Inexact and Separate Science of Economics
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Introduction
- Part I Introduction: Content, Structure, and Strategy of Mainstream Economics
- Part II Theory Assessment
- 9 Inexactness in Economic Theory
- 10 Mill’s Deductive Method and the Assessment of Economic Hypotheses
- 11 Methodological Revolution
- 12 Karl Popper and Imre Lakatos
- 13 The Inexact Deductive Method
- 14 Casting off Dogmatism
- Part III Conclusion
- Appendix An Introduction to Philosophy of Science
- References
- Index
Summary
Chapter 9 develops the traditional conception of economics as an inexact science that investigates deductively the implications of assumptions that are known to be true statements of tendencies, but that are only approximately true as generalizations concerning behavior. I consider interpretations of the problematic notion of inexactness as probabilistic, as approximate, as qualified with ceteris paribus clauses, and as stating tendencies that state the contribution that causes make to outcomes and hence how things would be in the absence of interferences. The chapter argues for an account that combines a view of inexactness in terms of tendencies with an account in terms of implicit qualification. Chapter 9 explains how statements of tendencies can be true.
Keywords
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- Information
- The Inexact and Separate Science of Economics , pp. 231 - 255Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023