Further Reflections on Human‐nature Assumptions in Economics — Part I: The “Men” of Aristotle, Adam Smith et al. Revisited

Abstract

In previous efforts the author has examined the various “men” of economics or human‐nature assumptions of “economic thinkers” as a way of treating the history and philosophy of the discipline. Here, under the thematic penumbra of “Man as the Centre of the Social Economy”, and hoping to incorporate the fruits of further inquiry into the matter, those “creatures” and their fashioners are critically reconsidered with a view towards arriving at a more adequate conception of a truly human “economiser” and – accordingly – science of human economy. In Part II, having presented homo oeconomicus in both his/her “impudent” and “honourable” versions, we shall attempt to transcend homo socioeconomicus and even our own (former) homo oeconomicus humanus as well.

Citation

Nitsch, T.O. (1990), "Further Reflections on Human‐nature Assumptions in Economics — Part I: The “Men” of Aristotle, Adam Smith et al. Revisited", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 17 No. 6, pp. 4-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068299010136723