It appears to be an obvious presupposition of the framing of the conference under discussion that abortion is morally unproblematic.

In my view, the historical economic work alluded to in its description reflects deeply "economistic" tendency to infer policy claims, imbued with a particular moral position, from economic premises. Here is a non sequitur ... unless one assumes moral consequentialist premises.

In the history of economics, consequentialism has had significant sway. But so too are there highly developed alternative views in the history of ethics, with inevitable entailments for economic thought. Start --just for example -- with such sophisticated philosophers as Elizabeth Anscombe or Alasdair MacIntyre.

One wonders what bylaws of the HES and what ideological orientation of the masters program  mentioned in the conference's description lead to support for a particular stance on so controverted a topic in the broader culture. Is it the purview of an academic society or of an academic program, both of which probably otherwise aspire officially to ideological neutrality ,to take sides in such an issue?

 

One of the emails in this thread alludes to "conservative" sources of funding. One could just as well trace sources of funding that are from a much different direction. The history of those sources of funding, and their influence on academic research, can be traced. Are sources of funding dispositive of the truth of a matter?

Returning to the conference, will it address the disgraceful historical eugenic roots of economic study of population policies that presupposes abortion , including the sway of eugenic policies and their funding sources within the history of economics?

My own view is that any econometric work that is used to undergird the policy claims of this conference could just as well be used to undergird a much different set of policies: the need to find policies to support impoverished women and their families who affirm the intrinsic value of life, including that of the unborn woman. There is already a huge network of volunteer efforts to achieve these ends, unfortunately overlooked by perhaps most economists, but also needed is robust discussion about social policies to achieve these ends.

As well as a critique of the culturally colonialist sway of policies that promote abortion.

The quest for truth about any topics proceeds by argument, counterargument, argument, and then more counterargument. An intellectually diverse approach to the study of the history of economics will include discussion about the moral presuppositions of economic views, which cannot so easily be suspended when it is convenient.

It is with considerable pain that I write above, enjoying as much as I do this listserv.

Brian Simboli

(Views expressed above are mine and do not necessarily represent those of my employer.)