The Methods of Political Economy

Economics is a fairly young discipline, and its beginnings are partly shaped by the attempt of gaining an understanding of its adequate methodology. In this course, we are looking into some of the classical methodological questions of political economy. In what sense is economics a science? What status do its laws have? What is its subject (the economy)? How is it related to political decisionmaking, and to value judgements? We will start by consulting classical contributions to Political Economy by thinkers like Adam Smith, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, or Henry Sidgwick. But we will increasingly attempt to connect their findings to more recent debates in economic methodology. All reading materials will be provided in a moodle at the beginning of the course.

The course is designed as a discoursive event. Thus, regular participation in class is desired, and can only be replaced by compensatory written submissions to a limited extent.