David Hume and Modern Economics

Datos Bibliográficos

ID8246774
AutoresSheila C Dow (0000-0001-9969-197X, University of Stirling, autor de correspondencia)
Año2009
Volumen4
Número1
Fecha de publicación2009-01-23
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCapitalism and Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1932-0213 • E-ISSN: 2194-6140
EditorialWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.2202/1932-0213.1049
OpenAlexW2033288466
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas8

Hume’s contribution to modern economics is normally thought of in terms of his early statement of the quantity theory of money, and to a lesser extent his views on trade and development. At a methodological level the influence from his empiricism is commonly traced to the development of econometrics. But if we explore his philosophy more fully, we find a much richer set of ideas which can illuminate the way we approach issues in modern economics. Here therefore we explore Hume’s theory of human nature and his theory of knowledge in order to understand how he viewed economic behaviour as inherently bound up in other aspects of life. From this follows a perspective on the relations between economics and other disciplines (notably history, sociology and psychology) which may inform current explorations of these relations. This reading of Hume’s approach to economics is illustrated by revisiting his theories of money and growth, and his approach to empiricism. Hume holds the potential for a much richer contribution to modern economics than is normally understood

Economic methodology · Economics · Empiricism · Epistemology · Order (exchange · Perspective (graphical · Positive economics · Reading (process · Set (abstract data type · Statement (logic · Computer Science · Critical Realism in Sociology · Economic Theory and Institutions · Philosophy · Political Economy and Marxism