================== HES POSTING ===================== Re the original question about mainstream economics being dominated by logical positivism The question has to do with the influence of logical positivism on economics. Roger, Bruce, Wade and now Evan all seem to agree that this particular philosophy does not have much influence on the practice of economics today. While Friedman's and Lipsey's names have surfaced in the ensuing discussion, why has there been no mention of TW Hutchison (economics) and AJ Ayer (philosophy) - two individuals who surely had much to do with the dissemination of logical positivism within the English-speaking world? [The title of Ch 6 of Bruce's 'Beyond Positivism' is 'Robbins versus Hutchison - The Introduction of Positivism in Economic Methodology. In his 'Appraisal and Criticism in Economics' Bruce distinguishes between classical positivism, logical positivism and positivism and goes on to date 'the beginning of the positivist epoch in economics as 1938'.] John Hart, Economics University of Natal Durban, South Africa [log in to unmask] ============ FOOTER TO HES POSTING ============ For information, send the message "info HES" to [log in to unmask]