Two economists views about method: economics without method vs methodological pluralism

Eduardo R. Scarano ()
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Eduardo R. Scarano: Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Centro de Investigación en Epistemología de las Ciencias Económicas, Buenos Aires-Argentina.

Economía, 2003, vol. 28-29, issue 19-20, 11-34

Abstract: This paper discusses two views of economic method supported by economists: the economics (the science) without method, a radical demand of Lawrence Boland and the opposite view, the pluralism of methods and the methodological pluralism, supported by Sheila Dow. Both are explained as it is explained the most important argument: there is not a set of universal criteria for choosing between rival theories. Though the principal arguments are alike, they have opposite implications. Then, the difficulties of each approach and some of their premises are examined and criticized. Both points of view explain an inadequate rationality theory. The construction of a satisfactory theory of rationality, which avoids the skepticism and the relativism, is the most important component of the methodological agenda.

Keywords: methodological pluralism; pluralism of methods; critical rationalism; economic method. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ula:econom:v:28-29:y:2003-2004:i:19-20:p:11-34

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