A Countercultural Methodology: Caldwell’s Beyond Positivism at Thirty-Five ^☆

Abstract

Caldwell’s Beyond Positivism was a key publication that helped precipitate the consolidation of the methodology of economics into a distinct subfield within economics. Reconsidering it after 35 years, it is striking for its antinaturalism (i.e., its lack of deference to the actual practices of economics) or, perhaps, for its meta-naturalism (displayed in its excessive deference to the philosophy of science) and for its defense of pluralism. It offers pluralism as an unsuccessful defense against dogmatism. Against Caldwell’s pluralism, dogmatism is better opposed by a commitment of fallibilism and scientific humility. Caldwell’s defense of Austrian methodology is taken as a case study to illustrate and investigate his key themes and the issues that they raise.

Citation

Hoover, K.D. (2018), "A Countercultural Methodology: Caldwell’s Beyond Positivism at Thirty-Five ^☆ ", Including a Symposium on Bruce Caldwell’s Beyond Positivism After 35 Years (Research in the History of Economic Thought and Methodology, Vol. 36A), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 9-17. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0743-41542018000036A002