Critical Economic Methodology - Lawrence A. Boland

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Résumé :
Taking issue with both economic methodologists and practicing economists, the author argues both that there has been too much 'methodology for methodology's sake' and that mainstream economics might benefit by using it.

Sommaire:
Prologue: Criticism and Methodology Part I: Friedman's methodology essay 1. Economic methodology prior to 1979 2. Criticizing the critics of Friedman's 1953 essay 3. Satisfactory criticism, empiricism and formalism in methodology 4. On the methodology of the history of contemporary thought Part II: Methodological criticisms and neoclassical economics 5. Tautologies vs. testability in economic methodology 6. Criticizing the neoclassical maximization hypothesis is futile 7. Appraisal vs. criticism in economics Part III: Criticizing the methods of economic methodology 8. The theory and practice of economic methodology 9. Criticizing economic positivism 10. Criticizing philosophy of economics 11. Reflections on Blaug's Methodology of Economics 12. Criticizing 'pluralism' and other conventionalist ploys Part IV: Criticizing the methods of economic analysis 13. Individualism vs. rationality in economics 14. Criticizing neoclassical equilibrium explanations 15. On criticizing neoclassical dynamics 16. Criticizing the value freeness of neoclassical economics 17. Criticizing the mathematics of neoclassical theory 18. Criticizing stylized facts and stylized methodology Part V: Popper and economic methodology 19. Understanding the Popperian legacy in economics 20. Scientific thinking without scientific method: two views of Popper Epilogue: Critical comments on the sociology of economic methodology