<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Due to the famous <italic>methodenstreit</italic> it is often well argued that Menger’s approach to social sciences can be seen as anti-historical, as according to him pure empirical studies are insufficient to establish a firm economic theory. By suggesting that some theorems have to precede historical studies, Menger may be seen as a representative of the a priori tradition in scientific method. The modern method in the mainstream of economic thinking is also to a large extent anti-historical and a priori, but because of its lack of realism and extensive reliance on very limiting assumptions. The main strength of the Mengerian anti-historical approach is lesser faith in imaginary constructs, implying a higher degree of realism in theorizing.</p></abstract>

Due to the famous methodenstreit it is often well argued that Menger’s approach to social sciences can be seen as anti-historical, as according to him pure empirical studies are insufficient to establish a firm economic theory. By suggesting that some theorems have to precede historical studies, Menger may be seen as a representative of the a priori tradition in scientific method. The modern method in the mainstream of economic thinking is also to a large extent anti-historical and a priori, but because of its lack of realism and extensive reliance on very limiting assumptions. The main strength of the Mengerian anti-historical approach is lesser faith in imaginary constructs, implying a higher degree of realism in theorizing.

Menger’s Anti-Historical Method Versus the Neoclassical Anti-Historical Method

https://orcid.org/0000–0002–1497–782X

Jan Evangelista Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem University of Wroclaw

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Due to the famous methodenstreit it is often well argued that Menger’s approach to social sciences can be seen as anti-historical, as according to him pure...

Menger’s Anti-Historical Method Versus the Neoclassical Anti-Historical Method

Published Online: Jul 20, 2019

Page range: 65 - 74

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2019-0004

Keywords
methodenstreit, a priori, Austrian, methodology

© 2019 Mateusz Machaj, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Menger’s Anti-Historical Method Versus the Neoclassical Anti-Historical Method

Published Online: Jul 20, 2019

Page range: 65 - 74

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2019-0004

Keywordsmethodenstreit, a priori, Austrian, methodology

© 2019 Mateusz Machaj, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
methodenstreit, a priori, Austrian, methodology