Philosophy of Economics

Edited by Anna Alexandrova (Cambridge University)
Assistant editor: Jack Wright (Cambridge University)
About this topic
Summary Philosophy of economics is a study of any philosophical issue that arises in connection with the discipline of economics. Currently it has three core areas: foundations, methodology and ethics. Foundations of economics encompass conceptual and metaphysical questions such as the nature of rationality and social ontology, seeking to clarify what we study when we study economics (preferences, individuals, institutions, societies etc?) and their properties and relations to each other. Methodology of economics, following on the traditional questions in philosophy of science, is concerned with the nature of knowledge that can be attained about the economy and its sources.  The ethical side of philosophy of economics is a study of normative issues such as justice, efficiency, equality, welfare, paternalism, coercion and such, that arise at the intersection of political philosophy and welfare economics.
Key works Daniel Hausman is responsible for kickstarting much of contemporary philosophy of economics. Hausman 2008 is a comprehensive encyclopedia article. Hausman 1984 is an anthology of classic essays from to J.S Mill and Marx to the present day. Hausman et al 2006 is a seminal study of normative assumptions in economics and their critical study. Hausman 1992 started and still informs many discussions in methodology of economics. Reiss 2009 presents an updated agenda. Mäki 2001 is a collection on the ontology of economics.
Introductions There is now a textbook in philosophy of economics: Reiss 2013. Other good introductions to philosophy of economics are just introductions to philosophy of social science: for example, Rosenberg 1988, Risjord 2014, and Elster 2007.
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History/traditions: Philosophy of Economics

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  1. Die sozialistische Produktionsweise: eine philosophiehistorische Analyse.Sieglinde Heppener - 1981 - Berlin: Dietz Verlag. Edited by Ursula Schirmer & Edgar-André Wieland.
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  2. Humanismo económico: de la economía al revés a la economía natural.Marcel de Corte - 1981 - Lima, Perú: IDEPS.
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  3. Voskhozhdenie ot abstraktnogo k konkretnomu v politicheskoĭ ėkonomii sot︠s︡ializma.A. K. Pokrytan - 1982 - Moskva: "Vysshai︠a︡ shkola,". Edited by S. V. Novikov.
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  4. Sōkatsuteki joron ; Busshitsu no tetsugakuteki gainen.Akihide Kakehashi - 1958 - Tōkyō: Miraisha. Edited by Akihide Kakehashi.
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  5. Die weltanschaulichen und wirtschaftheoretischen Grundlagen der Agrartheorie im Marxismus-Leninismus.Christian Krebs - 1983 - Berlin: Duncker & Humbolt.
  6. Sōgō keizai tetsugaku.Kōkichi Itō - 1983 - Tōkyō: Seibundō.
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  7. Las nuevas fronteras de la metologia sociológica.Manuel Castells - 1983 - In Manuel Castells & Emilio De Ipola (eds.), Epistemología y ciencias sociales. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, División Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Carrera de Sociología.
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  8. Práctica epistemológica y ciencias sociales.Manuel Castells Y. Emilio de Ipola - 1983 - In Manuel Castells & Emilio De Ipola (eds.), Epistemología y ciencias sociales. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, División Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Carrera de Sociología.
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  9. Epistemología y ciencias sociales.Manuel Castells & Emilio De Ipola (eds.) - 1983 - [México, D.F.]: Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, División Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Carrera de Sociología.
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  10. Science économique et maîtrise de l'avenir.Philippe Delalande - 1984 - Paris: Agence de coopération culturelle & technique.
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  11. Consistency in the valuation of life.E. J. Mishan - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  12. The value of life for decision making in the public sector.Dan Usher - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  13. Morality, reason, and management science.David Copp - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  14. Rule utilitarianism, equality, and justice.John C. Harsanyi - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
  15. Market contractarianism and the unanimity rule.Jules L. Coleman - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  16. Prospects for the elimination of tastes from economics and ethics.Alexander Rosenberg - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  17. Bargaining and justice.David Gauthier - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  18. What's morally special about free exchange?Alan Gibbard - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  19. The moral standing of the market.Amartya Sen - 1985 - In Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred D. Miller (eds.), Ethics and economics. [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  20. Ethics and economics.Ellen Frankel Paul, Jeffrey Paul & Fred Dycus Miller (eds.) - 1985 - New York, N.Y.: [Published by] B. Blackwell for the Social Philosophy and Policy Center, Bowling Green State University.
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  21. Über die Grenzen der Schreibtisch-Ökonomie.Wilhelm Brandes - 1985 - Tübingen: Mohr.
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  22. Zhe xue zheng xia [i.e. zhi] jing ji xue xuan ze ti 650 li.Dongsheng Li - 1986 - Shenyang: Liaoning min zu chu ban she. Edited by Songnian Wu.
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  23. Zheng zhi li lun ke wen ti jie da: zhe xue, zheng zhi jing ji xue, ke xue she hui zhu yi, Zhong gong dang shi, guo ji gong chan zhu yi yun dong shi.Rongwei He (ed.) - 1986 - [Chongqing shi]: Xin hua shu dian Chongqing fa xing suo fa xing.
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  24. Ningen kōdō no benshōhō.Shigeo Hayashida - 1987 - Tōkyō: Shiraishi Shoten.
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  25. Ru jia lun li yu jing ji fa zhan.Junshi Yang - 1987 - Taibei Shi: Yun chen wen hua shi ye gu fen you xian gong si. Edited by Nianzhong Du.
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  26. Shūkyōteki keizai rinri no kenkyū.Hiromichi Serikawa - 1987 - Tōkyō: Taga Shuppan.
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  27. On ethics and economics.Amartya Sen - 1987 - New York, NY, USA: Blackwell.
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  28. Nishida, Tanabe ryōtetsugaku to watakushi no tachiba.Akihide Kakehashi - 1987 - Tōkyō: Miraisha.
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  29. Perspektive 2000: der ökonomische Humanismus im Geiste Alexander Rüstows.Lothar Bossle (ed.) - 1987 - [Würzburg: Creator-Verlag.
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  30. Vitskapsfilosofi og økonomisk teori =.Kjell Arne Brekke & Asbjørn Torvanger (eds.) - 1989 - Oslo: I kommisjon hos H. Aschehoug og Universitetsforlaget.
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  31. Metodologicheskai︠a︡ funkt︠s︡ii︠a︡ teorii obshchestvenno-ėkonomicheskoĭ format︠s︡ii.A. A. Shmorgun - 1990 - Kiev: Nauk. dumka.
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  32. Algunos condicionantes valorativos de la conducta económica : un enfoque sociolólico.Francisco Fernández Mateo - 1990 - In Joaquín Barceló (ed.), Raíces humanistas de la ciencia económica. Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Editorial de Economía y Administración.
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  33. Naturaleza humana y gobierno en el pensamiento de Adam Smith.Oscar Mertz - 1990 - In Joaquín Barceló (ed.), Raíces humanistas de la ciencia económica. Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Editorial de Economía y Administración.
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  34. La Fábula de las abejas y la teoría económica clásica.Joaquín Barceló - 1990 - In Raíces humanistas de la ciencia económica. Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Editorial de Economía y Administración.
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  35. Propiedad y sociedad civil en Locke.Carlos Miranda - 1990 - In Joaquín Barceló (ed.), Raíces humanistas de la ciencia económica. Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Editorial de Economía y Administración.
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  36. Propiedad y dinero en el pensamiento de Aristóteles.Joaquín Barceló - 1990 - In Raíces humanistas de la ciencia económica. Universidad de Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Administrativas, Editorial de Economía y Administración.
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  37. Filosofii︠a︡ khozi︠a︡ĭstva.Sergiĭ Bulgakov - 1990 - Moskva: Nauka. Edited by V. V. Sapov.
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  38. Gesellschaftliche Koordination: eine ontologische und kulturwissenschaftliche Theorie der Marktwirtschaft.Peter Koslowski - 1991 - Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (P. Siebeck).
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  39. Distributive justice in business and social relationships: theoretical perspectives and current research.Solomon Udoka Ezenibe - 1992 - Calabar: Wusen Press..
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  40. Ethics and economics: bibliography on economic and business ethics.Frauke Siefkes - 1993 - Kiel: Bibliothek des Instituts für Weltwirtschaft an der Universität Kiel.
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  41. La morale, l'economia e la politica.Siro Lombardini - 1993 - Torino: UTET Libreria.
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  42. She hui zhu yi shi chang jing ji yu jing shen wen ming jian she.Gai Li, Ruifang Liu & Fang Li (eds.) - 1994 - Beijing: Shou du shi fan da xue chu ban she.
    书名原文:Transport processes in plasmas.vol.1,Classisal transport.
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  43. Hanʼguk kyŏngje rŭl sallinŭn H chŏngsin.Kwan-Jung Chu - 1994 - Sŏul Tʻŭkpyŏlsi: Hallim Chʻulpʻansa.
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  44. Ethics in economy: Euro-Arab perspectives.Hubert Dobers & Yāsir Muḥammad Sārah (eds.) - 1994 - Amman: Arab Thought Forum.
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  45. al-Akhlāqīyāt fī al-iqtiṣād: wijhāt naẓar Ūrūbbīyah wa-ʻArabīyah.Yāsir Sārah (ed.) - 1994 - ʻAmmān: Muʼassasat Kūnrād Adīnāwir, Qism al-Taʻāwun al-Dawlī (Maktab ʻAmmān).
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  46. La méthodologie: philosophie ou science?: le point de vue d'un économiste.Khālid Mannūbī - 1989 - [Tunis]: Centre d'études de recherches et de publications, Université de droit, d'économie et de gestion, Tunis III.
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  47. Nueva economía del bienestar: escritos seleccionados.Amartya K. Sen - 1995 - [València]: Universitat de València. Edited by José Casas Pardo.
    Esta obra contribuye al homenaje que la Universitat de València rindió al profesor Amartya Kumar Sen con motivo de su investidura como Doctor Honoris Causa. La cuidada selección de artículos preparada por el profesor Casas Pardo, precedida de un estudio introductorio sobre su obra, recoge las aportaciones más importantes, originales y creativas del Dr. Sen a la economía, la ética y al pensamiento social en general.
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  48. Risky Problems: Discounting Future Lives.Zimu Zhang - manuscript
    In "A Mathematical Theory of Saving", Ramsey writes, “it is assumed that we do not discount later enjoyments in comparison with earlier ones, a practice which is ethically indefensible and arises merely from the weakness of imagination” (Ramsey 543). Ramsey doesn’t tell us how discounting the enjoyment of future lives is ethically indefensible. Discounting is, however, very prevalent in the common economist’s work. Thus, Ramsey’s claim might be surprising. In this paper, then, I do two things. Firstly, I explain why (...)
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  49. Filosofskie osnovanii︠a︡ ėkonomiki.R. I. Tripolʹskiĭ - 1996 - Apatity: Rossiĭskai︠a︡ akademii︠a︡ nauk, Kolʹskiĭ nauch. t︠s︡entr.
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  50. Economic analysis and moral philosophy.Daniel M. Hausman - 1996 - New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Edited by Michael S. McPherson.
    Understanding moral philosophy can help one to do economics better, and philosophers can learn by drawing on economic insights and analytical tools. This book argues that standard views of rationality lead economists to espouse questionable moral principles, and discusses methods of economic evaluation in terms of welfare and other moral criteria. It also contains a brief discussion of the relevance of social choice and game theory to philosophy. There is a glossary and at the end of each chapter are suggestions (...)
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