Recalling a lecture from George Stigler, a senior scholar wrote:

"Perspective would come with time, as immersion in the field would force 
an academic to read the historical literature. The scholar himself also 
seemed divided on this issue, but said that ultimately, he did get the 
needed perspective in the years to come."

http://openeconomicsnd.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/history-of-economic-thought-some-navel-
gazing-and-soul-searching/


Two questions about this answer seem important:

1. What did the senior scholar mean by the needed perspective, which he 
claims to have received? What field is he in and what did he learn about 
the HOT in that field.

2. Is it not useful to know the HOT before choosing a field? In today's 
world of specialized economists, it is beside the point to speak of 
immersion in THE field. One should speak of immersion in A field. But 
then, the question arises of whether HOT may be helpful in guiding one's 
choice of field.

My inclination would be to discount the senior scholar's answer on the 
grounds that it is incomplete.

-- 
Pat Gunning
Professor of Economics
Groton, Connecticut
http://www.nomadpress.com/gunning/welcome.htm