'The methodology of positive economics' (1953) does not give us the methodology of positive economics

Uskali Maki

Journal of Economic Methodology, 2003, vol. 10, issue 4, 495-505

Abstract: It is argued that rather than a well defined F-Twist, Milton Friedman's 'Methodology of positive economics' offers an F-Mix: a pool of ambiguous and inconsistent ingredients that can be used for putting together a number of different methodological positions. This concerns issues such as the very concept of being unrealistic, the goal of predictive tests, the as-if formulation of theories, explanatory unification, social construction, and more. Both friends and foes of Friedman's essay have ignored its open-ended unclarities. Their removal may help create common ground for more focused debate in economics.

Keywords: Unrealistic assumptions; predictive tests; truth; as-if; unification; social construction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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DOI: 10.1080/1350178032000130484

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