Sociology and the Imperialism of Economics

Ulrich Witt

Review of Behavioral Economics, 2015, vol. 2, issue 1-2, 195-202

Abstract: In their paper to be discussed here, Gintis and Helbing elaborate on a broad range of topics. Their major suggestion is, however, that the notion of general social equilibrium should be made the core of sociological theory, mimicking in this respect the role of general equilibrium theory in economics. In my comment I raise several objections against this suggestion from an economist’s point of view. The critique focuses on the implicit ideological content of general equilibrium theory, its fictional status, and its inability to account for premises and research interests that appear central to sociology.

Keywords: Sociology; Disciplinary imperialism; General equilibrium theory; Sociobiology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 Y80 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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