Can Economics be Founded on ‘Indisputable Facts of Experience’? Lionel Robbins and the Pioneers of Neoclassical Economics

Bibliographic Data

ID9725269
AuthorsRobert Sugden (0000-0002-3401-3139, University of East Anglia, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume76
Issues1
Pages857-872
Publication date2009-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEconomica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0013-0427 • E-ISSN: 1468-0335
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1468-0335.2009.00793.x
OpenAlexW2062114032
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited17

Robbins argues that the fundamental propositions of microeconomic theory are deductions from the assumption that individuals act on consistent preferences; this ‘indisputable fact of experience’ does not need to be validated in controlled experiments. While recognising that some neoclassical pioneers based the theory on psychological hedonism, Robbins claims that his own approach of ‘pure theory’ belongs to a parallel and sounder tradition exemplified by Menger and Wicksteed. This paper argues that Robbins' methodological defence of pure theory is incoherent, and that his claim to find an intellectual lineage in the works of Menger and Wicksteed overlooks important discontinuities

Classification of discontinuities · Economics · Epistemology · Hedonism · Mathematical economics · Neoclassical economics · Positive economics · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Economic theories and models · Economic Theory and Institutions · Mathematics · Philosophy

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