Walras and Cournot’s mathematical method: comparison and discord challenge

Ludovic Ragni ()

Cahiers d’économie politique / Papers in Political Economy, 2011, issue 60, 149-178

Abstract: This article contributes to the explanation of the methodological differences between Cournot and Walras when these authors apply mathematics to economics. Our article explains the reasons behind Cournot’s refusal when Walras required him to write an article, which advocates the application of mathematical method in economics. We indicate then why Cournot remains in favour of mathematical method even after the publication of Principles in 1863. We show then that Cournot refers to specific way of considering mathematics in economics. This way differs from the Walras’ one in several aspects.

Keywords: Walras; general economic equilibrium; walrasian equilibrium; Cournot; methodology; mathematical method; epistemology; history of economic thought. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B13 B30 B31 B40 B41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.cairn.info/resume.php?ID_ARTICLE=CEP_060_0149 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cpo:journl:y:2011:i:60:p:149-178

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
142 rue du faubourg Saint-Martin. 75010 Paris, France.

Access Statistics for this article

Cahiers d’économie politique / Papers in Political Economy is currently edited by Claire Pignol

More articles in Cahiers d’économie politique / Papers in Political Economy from L'Harmattan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Carlos Andrés Vasco Correa ().