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For much of the twentieth century, mainstream economists have
treated human agents in their models as if they were rational
beings of unbounded computational capacity - the notorious 'Homo
Economicus' of much economic theory. However, the patent
inadequacies of this understanding of human nature have become
increasingly apparent, and economists have begun looking for more
realistic models, incorporating the insights of evolutionary
theory. The authors address the question of human nature in
economics, examining not only some of the recent writing on this
subject in evolutionary psychology and related disciplines, but
also the ideas of important thinkers in the Western intellectual
tradition. Beginning with the ancient Greeks and progressing to the
modern day, the contributors explore the works of such thinkers as
Augustine, Adam Smith, Thomas Malthus, Alfred Marshall and Kenneth
Boulding. Many of these works are placed in a Darwinian,
evolutionary perspective, with the imperative that the study of
human nature must be consistent with our understanding of human
evolution, and should consider how human beings are moulded by
cultural and institutional influences. Naturally, Darwin's own view
of human nature is also explored, undermining the mistaken notion
that Darwinism promotes human nature as greedy, uncooperative and
self-seeking. This enlightening, original and highly readable work
will be of great interest to professional economists and students,
researchers and teachers of evolutionary economics.
Adam Smith's remarkable book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, now
deservedly coming to greater prominence, combines classical
philosophy, early modern psychology and incisive observations of
everyday life into a complex theory of human behaviour. New
Perspectives on Adam Smith's "The Theory of Moral Sentiments" is a
comprehensive study of Smith's ideas, reflecting the explosion of
interest in his work. It brings together themes and methodologies
from a variety of fields, including politics, sociology,
intellectual history, history of science and evolutionary
psychology. The contributions revolve around four themes: the ways
in which Smith combined both classical and modern sources to create
his own account of human economic and social behaviour; the
insights gained from taking seriously the centrality of a
benevolent deity to Smith's system; Smith's exploration of new
forms of civility and self-formation, and the relationship between
Smith's moral philosophy and the emerging bodies of knowledge that
were formalised in the nineteenth century as sociology and science.
Economists and political economists have predominated in Adam Smith
scholarship. This book looks at Smith's ideas from a much broader
set of disciplinary perspectives and as such will appeal to
historians of economic, political and moral thought as well as Adam
Smith scholars in particular and economists more generally.
Henry George's Progress and Poverty sold more than 3 million copies
by the time of its 50th anniversary in 1929 - outselling all other
works on economics - yet today economics students can complete
their courses without ever having heard of the author's name. This
collection redresses this neglect, by presenting a range of
perspectives on Henry George's fertile ideas which, it is
increasingly argued, merit revisiting in terms of their capacity to
contribute towards solutions to current problems including runaway
land values, nationalization of land, monopoly control of public
assets and environmental degradation. The book also discusses
George's significant theoretical contributions, including the
'Henry George Theorem' - named after him by two Nobel prize winning
economists - and important insights bearing on the relation of
evolutionary theory to economics. The authors also discuss George's
powerful influence on the economic development of Australia and New
Zealand, and the affinity he felt for these countries is also
considered. Henry George's Legacy in Economic Thought will appeal
in particular to upper level students and scholars of the history
of economic thought and the public sector but also to economists
more widely.
Darwinism is fast becoming an orthodoxy of modern thought, a
framework within which a wide range of knowledge communities
conduct their discourse. Ever since its formation, Darwinian theory
has experienced a close, though not always comfortable, association
with economics. Evolutionary economists now appear to show little
concern for the consistency of knowledge in their embrace of
Darwinism. Darwinism and Evolutionary Economics brings together
contributions from eminent authors who, building on Darwin's own
insights and on developments in evolutionary theory, offer
challenging views on how economics can use evolutionary ideas
effectively. This collection of critical essays provides a thorough
examination of the application of Darwinian theory to economic
thought, and will appeal to evolutionary economists and all those
with an interest in Darwin, innovation and evolutionary science.
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger
Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain
imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed
pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we
have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting,
preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger
Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and
hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the human,
social and economic aspects of science and technology. It examines
a broad range of issues from a variety of perspectives, using
examples and experiences from Australia and around the world. The
authors present complex issues in an accessible and engaging form.
Topics include the responsibilities of scientists, ethical dilemmas
and controversies, the Industrial Revolution, economic issues,
public policy, and science and technology in developing countries.
The book ends with a thoughtful and provocative look towards the
future. It includes extensive guides to further reading, as well as
a useful section on information searching skills. This book will
provoke, engage, inform and stimulate thoughtful discussion about
culture, society and science. Broad and interdisciplinary, it will
be of considerable value to students and teachers.
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the human,
social and economic aspects of science and technology. It examines
a broad range of issues from a variety of perspectives, using
examples and experiences from Australia and around the world. The
authors present complex issues in an accessible and engaging form.
Topics include the responsibilities of scientists, ethical dilemmas
and controversies, the Industrial Revolution, economic issues,
public policy, and science and technology in developing countries.
The book ends with a thoughtful and provocative look towards the
future. It includes extensive guides to further reading, as well as
a useful section on information searching skills. This book will
provoke, engage, inform and stimulate thoughtful discussion about
culture, society and science. Broad and interdisciplinary, it will
be of considerable value to students and teachers.
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