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Date: | Thu Sep 6 09:11:13 2007 |
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History of economic science is an exercise in the development and
application of principles of economic science. Mr. David Brett, who sounds
like a historicist, might do himself good if he cares to learn about the
intellectual battle between scientists and historicists, in which
historicists lost, more than a century ago. He ought to know who Carl
Menger was and why he fought off the historicists. The idea of putting the
historical study of the development of scientific principles of a discipline
in a category of history, archaeology, and religion seems to be highly
laughable. I have no doubt that such a proposal comes from one who has no
idea what the history of thought contains. Let me emphasize that HES
constitutes a validation procedure for current research on the principles of
economic science. [Should I write an article on this?]
I would encourage Mr. Brett to consider the idea of an inherited house,
built by ancestors, but still being inhabited by their successors, who keep
making changes, and look back in the old treasure chests whenever they wish
to solve some problem. This is because principles of science are timeless,
despite the evolution of ideas. To suppose that the study of history of
scientific ideas is just some kind of old curiosity shop of useless relics
similar to archeological antiques is a monumental blunder.
Mr. Brett might also enlighten him if he would care to study Thomas Kuhns
idea of the Structure of Scientific Revolution and how others have looked at
the same issues. He would then be able to understand that science is not the
result of a lone wunderkind who delivers new bits of knowledge from out of
the complete void of ignorance, but through a very organized process of
ceaseless work of great many scientists all of whom are trying to solve
problems, all the time sharing ideas on how to solve problems. The fist use
of the history of economic science is to learn about ways of solving
problems that our predecessors tried with varying degrees of success,
including lasting achievements.
It is usual among the uninitiated to suppose that the present generation
possesses the refined knowledge and the earlier generations only had junk. I
suggest that Mr. Brett should enroll in a course on the history of economic
science. I feel sad that Israel Kirzner has retired; otherwise I would
suggest him to go to NYU and study under Kirzner. I may still offer him the
idea that he can take a few courses from Peter Boettke. He would then
realize that the history is pretty alive, that it is a conversation with our
seniors who are still exercising their minds. We need to see that we are
continuing a process of learning that was begun long ago but that has not
been finished. I hope one understands why a son takes guidance from his
father.
Mohammad Gani
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