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 2007 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 1995, Risjord 2014, and Elster 2007. |
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Related categories
Subcategories: See also:
Areas of Economics (1,093 | 150)
Microeconomics (92)
Macroeconomics (148)
Econometrics (127)
Experimental Economics (184)
Behavioral Economics (102)
Health Economics (6)
Areas of Economics, Misc (212)
The Status of Economics (807 | 259)
Issues in the Philosophy of Economics (4,741 | 1,563)
Economic Institutions (128)
Economics and Policy (18)
History of Economics (824)
Laws in Economics (32)
Markets (806)
Models in Economics (195)
Rationality in Economics (278)
Theory in Economics (1,742 | 1,526)
Public Choice Theory (27)
Rational Choice Theory* (521)
Social Choice Theory* (686 | 235)
Decision Theory* (3,990 | 427)
Game Theory* (1,207 | 392)
Economics and Ethics (1,741 | 745)
Distributive Justice* (2,727 | 1,298)
Economics and Justice (194)
Equality* (4,148 | 1,252)
Normative Economics (143)
Values in Economics (186)
- Philosophy of Social Science (64,822)
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Editorial team
General Editors:
David Bourget (Western Ontario) David Chalmers (ANU, NYU) Area Editors: David Bourget Gwen Bradford Berit Brogaard Margaret Cameron David Chalmers James Chase Rafael De Clercq Ezio Di Nucci Barry Hallen Hans Halvorson Jonathan Ichikawa Michelle Kosch Øystein Linnebo JeeLoo Liu Paul Livingston Brandon Look Manolo Martínez Matthew McGrath Michiru Nagatsu Susana Nuccetelli Giuseppe Primiero Jack Alan Reynolds Darrell P. Rowbottom Aleksandra Samonek Constantine Sandis Howard Sankey Jonathan Schaffer Thomas Senor Robin Smith Daniel Star Jussi Suikkanen Lynne Tirrell Aness Kim Webster Other editors Contact us Learn more about PhilPapers |