040049 SE Philosophy and Economics (MA) (2023W)

Aims
The aim of this course is to investigate and analyse the different interpretational points of view that different Histories of Economic Ideas (Histories of Economic Thought) introduce in order to explicate the development of economic ideas. Singular historical events and incidents in a particular scientific discipline, such as economics, are explained in terms of singular historical explanations, which are animated by strictly universal and empirical propositions. In contrast and for logical reasons, explications of historical development processes of scientific disciplines as provided by different Histories of Economic Ideas (Thought), require interpretational points of view, formed by theories of scientific progress. However, as theories of scientific progress are logical consequences of particular epistemological positions, these theories result from special solutions of the problems of induction and demarcation. By analysing different Histories of Economic Ideas (Thought), this seminar aims at uncovering the different epistemological positions as well as the different theories of scientific progress that implicitly form the interpretational points of view of these histories.

Methods
Teaching consists in one unbroken 90-minute weekly seminar. In form of a lecture, based on selected passages of epistemological and methodological writings, meetings 1 to 5, (meetings Oct. 5th, Oct. 12th, Oct. 19th, Nov. 9th, and Nov. 16th), will be devoted to introducing students to the problems at issue. This introductory phase of the seminar provides students with a theoretical framework for analysing particular Histories of Economic Ideas (Thought). That introductory phase of the seminar is followed by a period of reading. Meetings 6 to 9 (meetings Nov. 23rd, Nov. 30th, Dec.7th, and Dec. 14th) are devoted mainly to reading entire or parts of Histories of Economic Ideas (Thought). In that second phase of the seminar and having obtained an appropriate theoretical framework in the first phase of the seminar, students will choose particular Histories of Economic Ideas in order to uncover the epistemological positions and theories of scientific progress that form the interpretational points of view upon which they are based. Weekly meetings will cover discussions regarding general issues and problems with respect to the chosen readings as well as issues regarding problems students confront in the progress of reading. In order to facilitate discussions, questions will be issued in advance of every meeting and students are welcome to respond to them as well as forming questions and contributions on their own. The third phase of the seminar, covering meetings 10 to 12 (meetings Jan. 11th, Jan. 18th, and Jan. 25th), is devoted to the presentation and discussion of talks developed on the basis of the two preceding phases of the seminar. On the basis of these talks and discussions and in order to clarify the problem situations, problems and suggested solutions discussed, students will author proper seminar papers and hand them in at a later date.