From way outside I take the liberty of seconding mäki on the English translations of Menger and "the Historical School." They are precisely "often horrifyingly misleading." From the English translation and edition of Menger's "Grundsätze," or the English renditions of Bücher's or Roscher's works, you cannot understand the originals. If you intend to rely much on secondary literature, be sure, as mäki suggests, Tribe too, do not trust arguments based on English translations; trust only authors who've worked on the originals.

-----Original Message-----
From: Societies for the History of Economics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Uskali Mäki
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2016 6:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [SHOE] Literature on the Methodenstreit

Most of the relevant secondary literature has been in German. All too little (and good) has been written in English. As to the primary lit, one should exercise caution in using the English translations of Untersuchungen, let alone the texts by the 'historical' 'school' - would be advisable always to double check with the original. My impression overall is that most of the lit has been all too coarse and over-simplifying and over-generalising. What one finds in textbooks and elsewhere is often horrifyingly misleading. Refined conceptual tools are needed for understanding the Streit - well, if not that (the participants seldom put forth very elaborated views themselves), then at least for drawing useful lessons from it.

In the name of sweet and shameful self-promotion:
"Universals and the Methodenstreit: A re-examination of Carl Menger's conception of economics as an exact science", Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 28, 1997, 475-495.

c uskali mäki


Lainaus Bruce Larson <[log in to unmask]>:

> I would like to refresh (and advance) my knowledge about the 
> Methodenstreit, i.e., the "battle of methods" between Carl Menger and 
> the German Historical School.  I know, of course, about Menger's
> *Investigations* but I am especially interested in a book-length 
> treatment of the issues involved and how they relate to current issues 
> in economics; a long article might be sufficient.  I would be grateful 
> for your suggestions.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Bruce Larson
> Professor of Economics Emeritus
> University of North Carolina at Asheville

--
Uskali Mäki
Academy Professor
TINT - Centre of Excellence in the Philosophy of the Social Sciences Department of Political and Economic Studies / Philosophy University of Helsinki http://www.helsinki.fi/tint http://www.helsinki.fi/tint/maki [log in to unmask]