040066 SE Philosophy-Politics-Economics-Anti-and Pronaturalistic Doctrines in Economics: a guided reading (MA) (2016S)

Frequently epistemological and methodological positions in economics are classified into pro- and antinaturalistic positions. This classification is based on views regarding the applicability of the methods of the natural sciences in the theoretical social sciences and in history. Since those methods were regarded to be inductive methods, anti- and pronaturalistic positions may also be regarded as attempts to solve the problem of applying inductive methods in the theoretical social sciences and in history. This seminar examines the different anti- and pronaturalistic positions as developed by different authors and aims at showing that the problem of induction and demarcation are the two fundamental problems triggering those positions. Discussions in the seminar will be based on a ‘guided reading’ of different texts defending anti- and pronaturalistic positions as well as on student’s talks introducing specific anti- and pronaturalistic positions. The seminar introduces students to the philosophy of economics and the social sciences in general. Diligent students will learn to make sense of and evaluate the historical background, achievements, main criticisms and later developments of controversies in economics which implictly still cover much ground in temporary discusssions.