The Scope and Method of Political Economy - Softcover

Keynes, John Neville

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1412814642 ISBN 13: 9781412814645

Publisher: Routledge, 2011

Synopsis

The elder Keynes argues that almost every problem connected with the scope and method of political economy has given rise to conflict of opinion. The resulting controversies have sometimes been bitter. Those readers, who already have any acquaintance with the literature of economic method should be prepared to find that several of the chapters are controversial in character. At the same time, Keynes avoids the tone of a partisan and represents both sides of the argument without prejudice.

While making no attempt to bring about a complete reconciliation between opposing views, Keynes shows the nature of the opposition between them has sometimes been misunderstood, and its extent consequently exaggerated. Since the scope and method of a science can never be satisfactorily discussed at the commencement of its study, some knowledge of political economy in its general outlines is assumed.

The nature of the topics discussed in this classic is indicated in the introductory chapter. The abstract discussion of methods is one to which students of economics must necessarily give attention in the course of their reading, and its indirect bearing on the solution of practical economic questions is very close in contemporary importance in today’s society.

About this title

About the Author

John Neville Keynes (1852-1949) was an economist and father to the late John Maynard Keynes. He was also university lecturer in moral science and late fellow of Pembroke College at the University of Cambridge as well as late examiner in political economy at the University of London. One of his famous arguments was dividing the idea of Economy into three parts: positive economy, normative economy, and the "art of economics." He is most known for his Studies and Exercises in Formal Logic.

Review

“This book should be welcome to every student of economic literature, no matter what view he may take of the subject under consideration.” —The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1412814642
• ISBN 13: 9781412814645
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 376