The search for early examples of an idea, or what is called a kind of
"genealogical dictionary" by professor Weintraub, may help with another
function as well: that the idea can be shaped simply by the imperatives of
argument rather than the contexts in which the precursors are, perhaps even
regardless of their desires. If so, exposing such servitudes can be viewed
as one task of a historian of economics?
Best,
Mohammad Maljoo