Rod O’donnell
Biographic Data
| ID | 4876526 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rod O’donnell |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rod |
| FAMILY NAME | O’donnell |
| SIGNATURE | O’DONNELL R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4805-3350 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 20 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 16 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1990 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
On Teaching Political Economy and Economics to First Nations and Non-First Nations Students
Invisible and Visible Hands. What Kind of Economist is Adam Smith, and Why is He Still Relevant
Adam Smith's works are investigated to provide better understandings of his contributions to economics and social science.The main issues discussed
Metaphors
Logic and Economics II
This paper investigates Pure Neoclassical economics from a logical standpoint. After discussing validity criteria, it focuses on theoretical individualism, a core foundation of Neoclassical theorizing in all its variants. Careful analysis of this doctrine reveals that, while mathematically valid, it generates many propositional contradictions in all economic and social science theories grounded upon it
Introduction to the Special Issue Celebrating the Contributions of Karl Mittermaier (1938 – 2016) to Economics
Logic and Economics I
Economic theory has two inter-related, desiderata — valid argumentation, and scientific explanations of relevant realities. This paper explores whether these objectives can be achieved with a widely-deployed form of Neoclassical economics. Applying arguments drawn from logic to this type of theorizing produces far-reaching conclusions
Keynes and Smith, Opponents or Allies? Part II
In investigating Keynes–Smith relationships, this paper discusses Smith and the parallels between the mature contributions of these two philosopher-economists. It begins by carefully examining Smith’s economic theory and policy, summarising his core argument in a clarifying syllogism, and exploring his invisible hand remarks. It then turns to the largely unexplored parallels between their major economic works. In theoretical terms, their core arg…
General Theory-Special Case Relationships
In economic theory, methodology and philosophy, general theory-special case relationships are rarely investigated. In 1936, Keynes challenged orthodoxy with the claim that his general theory embraced orthodoxy as a special case. Orthodoxy counter-claimed that its theory was the only general theory within which Keynes’s could only be a special case. This paper explores the important issues behind the dispute in three parts. Part A examines the con…
Keynes's Treatise on Probability
On the centenary of the Treatise on Probability's publication, this paper explores six related topics: varieties of realism; Ramsey's critique; Keynes's response; radical uncertainty; the continuity/discontinuity question regarding Keynes's philosophy and economics; and the possibility of a non-Platonic interpretation of logical probability. Several new perspectives are presented
Keynes and Smith, Opponents or Allies? Part I
This paper is the first of a two-part investigation of a topic that has received little attention: the relationships between Keynes and Smith in economic theory and policy. Due to its wide scope and the need for careful discussion of primary sources, two papers are presented. Part I focuses on Keynes and examines all his remarks concerning Smith to address two central questions. Did Keynes classify Smith as a ‘classical economist’ and hence as an…
Some Misunderstood Aspects of the Final Chapter of Keynes’s General Theory
Some seriously misunderstood issues arise in three paragraphs in the last chapter of Keynes’s General Theory concerning the relationship between his theory and orthodox theory. That these passages permit a form of theoretical reconciliation is a view shared by prominent commentators of opposing persuasions. Joan Robinson and John Eatwell strongly criticised Keynes for inconsistency and for opening the door to neoclassical elements that undermine …
Keynes on Aesthetics
Research Article| December 01 1995 Keynes on Aesthetics Rod O'Donnell Rod O'Donnell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google History of Political Economy (1995) 27 (Supplement): 93–121. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182702-27-Supplement-93 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Permissions Search Site Citation Rod O'Donnell; Keynes on Aesthetics. History of Political Economy 1 December 1995; 27 (Supplement)…
Keynes's Weight of Argument and Popper's Paradox of Ideal Evidence
Popper's paradox of ideal evidence has long been viewed as a telling criticism of Keynes's logical theory of probability and its associated concept of the weight of argument. This paper shows that a simple addition to Keynes's definitions of irrelevance enables his theory to elude the paradox with ease. The modified definition draws on ideas already present in Keynes's Treatise on Probability (1973). As a consequence, relevant evidence and the we…
The Unwritten Books and Papers of J. M. Keynes
Research Article| November 01 1992 The Unwritten Books and Papers of J. M. Keynes Rod O'Donnell Rod O'Donnell 1 Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google History of Political Economy (1992) 24 (4): 767–817. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182702-24-4-767 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Permissions Cite Icon Ci…
An overview of probability, expectations, uncertainty and rationality in Keynes's conceptual framework 1
Keynes's writings on the cognate topics of probability, expectations, uncertainty and rationality exhibit considerable complexity. This paper seeks to provide a clarifying overview of his position on these topics, both in his main philosophical workThe treatise on probability, and his main economic workThe general theory. It is argued that the most useful approach for understanding the deeper structure of Keynes's thought in each work is by means…
The Epistemology of J. M. Keynes
This paper has two objectives, neither previously attempted in the published literature—first, to outline J. M. Keynes's theory of knowledge in some detail, and, secondly, to justify the contention that his epistemology is a variety of rationalism, and not, as many have asserted, a form of empiricism. Keynes's attitude to empirical data is also analysed as well as his views on prediction and theory choice.
The Unwritten Books and Papers of J. M. Keynes
Research Article| November 01 1992 The Unwritten Books and Papers of J. M. Keynes Rod O'Donnell Rod O'Donnell 1 Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google History of Political Economy (1992) 24 (4): 767–817. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182702-24-4-767 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Permissions Cite Icon Ci…
Some Misunderstood Aspects of the Final Chapter of Keynes’s General Theory
Some seriously misunderstood issues arise in three paragraphs in the last chapter of Keynes’s General Theory concerning the relationship between his theory and orthodox theory. That these passages permit a form of theoretical reconciliation is a view shared by prominent commentators of opposing persuasions. Joan Robinson and John Eatwell strongly criticised Keynes for inconsistency and for opening the door to neoclassical elements that undermine …
Logic and Economics II
This paper investigates Pure Neoclassical economics from a logical standpoint. After discussing validity criteria, it focuses on theoretical individualism, a core foundation of Neoclassical theorizing in all its variants. Careful analysis of this doctrine reveals that, while mathematically valid, it generates many propositional contradictions in all economic and social science theories grounded upon it
Logic and Economics I
Economic theory has two inter-related, desiderata — valid argumentation, and scientific explanations of relevant realities. This paper explores whether these objectives can be achieved with a widely-deployed form of Neoclassical economics. Applying arguments drawn from logic to this type of theorizing produces far-reaching conclusions
Invisible and Visible Hands. What Kind of Economist is Adam Smith, and Why is He Still Relevant
Adam Smith's works are investigated to provide better understandings of his contributions to economics and social science.The main issues discussed
An overview of probability, expectations, uncertainty and rationality in Keynes's conceptual framework 1
Keynes's writings on the cognate topics of probability, expectations, uncertainty and rationality exhibit considerable complexity. This paper seeks to provide a clarifying overview of his position on these topics, both in his main philosophical workThe treatise on probability, and his main economic workThe general theory. It is argued that the most useful approach for understanding the deeper structure of Keynes's thought in each work is by means…
The Epistemology of J. M. Keynes
This paper has two objectives, neither previously attempted in the published literature—first, to outline J. M. Keynes's theory of knowledge in some detail, and, secondly, to justify the contention that his epistemology is a variety of rationalism, and not, as many have asserted, a form of empiricism. Keynes's attitude to empirical data is also analysed as well as his views on prediction and theory choice.
An overview of probability, expectations, uncertainty and rationality in Keynes's conceptual framework 1
Keynes's writings on the cognate topics of probability, expectations, uncertainty and rationality exhibit considerable complexity. This paper seeks to provide a clarifying overview of his position on these topics, both in his main philosophical workThe treatise on probability, and his main economic workThe general theory. It is argued that the most useful approach for understanding the deeper structure of Keynes's thought in each work is by means…
The Epistemology of J. M. Keynes
This paper has two objectives, neither previously attempted in the published literature—first, to outline J. M. Keynes's theory of knowledge in some detail, and, secondly, to justify the contention that his epistemology is a variety of rationalism, and not, as many have asserted, a form of empiricism. Keynes's attitude to empirical data is also analysed as well as his views on prediction and theory choice.
Keynes's Weight of Argument and Popper's Paradox of Ideal Evidence
Popper's paradox of ideal evidence has long been viewed as a telling criticism of Keynes's logical theory of probability and its associated concept of the weight of argument. This paper shows that a simple addition to Keynes's definitions of irrelevance enables his theory to elude the paradox with ease. The modified definition draws on ideas already present in Keynes's Treatise on Probability (1973). As a consequence, relevant evidence and the we…
The Unwritten Books and Papers of J. M. Keynes
Research Article| November 01 1992 The Unwritten Books and Papers of J. M. Keynes Rod O'Donnell Rod O'Donnell 1 Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google History of Political Economy (1992) 24 (4): 767–817. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182702-24-4-767 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Tools Icon Tools Permissions Cite Icon Ci…
Keynes on Aesthetics
Research Article| December 01 1995 Keynes on Aesthetics Rod O'Donnell Rod O'Donnell Search for other works by this author on: This Site Google History of Political Economy (1995) 27 (Supplement): 93–121. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182702-27-Supplement-93 Cite Icon Cite Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Permissions Search Site Citation Rod O'Donnell; Keynes on Aesthetics. History of Political Economy 1 December 1995; 27 (Supplement)…
Some Misunderstood Aspects of the Final Chapter of Keynes’s General Theory
Some seriously misunderstood issues arise in three paragraphs in the last chapter of Keynes’s General Theory concerning the relationship between his theory and orthodox theory. That these passages permit a form of theoretical reconciliation is a view shared by prominent commentators of opposing persuasions. Joan Robinson and John Eatwell strongly criticised Keynes for inconsistency and for opening the door to neoclassical elements that undermine …
Keynes and Smith, Opponents or Allies? Part II
In investigating Keynes–Smith relationships, this paper discusses Smith and the parallels between the mature contributions of these two philosopher-economists. It begins by carefully examining Smith’s economic theory and policy, summarising his core argument in a clarifying syllogism, and exploring his invisible hand remarks. It then turns to the largely unexplored parallels between their major economic works. In theoretical terms, their core arg…
General Theory-Special Case Relationships
In economic theory, methodology and philosophy, general theory-special case relationships are rarely investigated. In 1936, Keynes challenged orthodoxy with the claim that his general theory embraced orthodoxy as a special case. Orthodoxy counter-claimed that its theory was the only general theory within which Keynes’s could only be a special case. This paper explores the important issues behind the dispute in three parts. Part A examines the con…
Keynes's Treatise on Probability
On the centenary of the Treatise on Probability's publication, this paper explores six related topics: varieties of realism; Ramsey's critique; Keynes's response; radical uncertainty; the continuity/discontinuity question regarding Keynes's philosophy and economics; and the possibility of a non-Platonic interpretation of logical probability. Several new perspectives are presented
Keynes and Smith, Opponents or Allies? Part I
This paper is the first of a two-part investigation of a topic that has received little attention: the relationships between Keynes and Smith in economic theory and policy. Due to its wide scope and the need for careful discussion of primary sources, two papers are presented. Part I focuses on Keynes and examines all his remarks concerning Smith to address two central questions. Did Keynes classify Smith as a ‘classical economist’ and hence as an…
Introduction to the Special Issue Celebrating the Contributions of Karl Mittermaier (1938 – 2016) to Economics
Logic and Economics I
Economic theory has two inter-related, desiderata — valid argumentation, and scientific explanations of relevant realities. This paper explores whether these objectives can be achieved with a widely-deployed form of Neoclassical economics. Applying arguments drawn from logic to this type of theorizing produces far-reaching conclusions
Logic and Economics II
This paper investigates Pure Neoclassical economics from a logical standpoint. After discussing validity criteria, it focuses on theoretical individualism, a core foundation of Neoclassical theorizing in all its variants. Careful analysis of this doctrine reveals that, while mathematically valid, it generates many propositional contradictions in all economic and social science theories grounded upon it
Invisible and Visible Hands. What Kind of Economist is Adam Smith, and Why is He Still Relevant
Adam Smith's works are investigated to provide better understandings of his contributions to economics and social science.The main issues discussed
Metaphors
On Teaching Political Economy and Economics to First Nations and Non-First Nations Students
Economic Theory and Institutions (15 works) · Economics (11 works) · Economic Theory and Policy (10 works) · Positive economics (10 works) · Epistemology (8 works) · Neoclassical economics (8 works) · Philosophy (8 works) · Philosophy (6 works) · Mathematical economics (5 works) · Political Economy and Marxism (5 works)