On Complexity as Meta-Theory: a perspective from Economics

Margherita Redigonda

No hnvzx, OSF Preprints from Center for Open Science

Abstract: The absence of a recognized definition of complexity makes very difficult to study it. This paper attempts to provide a definition of complexity following the insight expressed by Anderson in the 1972 article "More is Different" in an anti-reductionist perspective and recognizing the difference between the idea of complexity and the mathematical methods historically used for the study of complex systems. The definition provided allows for the recognition of complexity as a meta-theory rather than as a scientific theory, describing its characteristics. Next, the relationship between complexity and economics is explored from a historical and methodological perspective, recognizing three different archetypes of the relationship (neo-empirical, post-neoclassical, meta-theoretical). Finally, what social norms hinder or would facilitate the adoption of complexity meta-theory in scientific practice are described.

Date: 2023-12-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-his, nep-hme and nep-hpe
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:osfxxx:hnvzx

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/hnvzx

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