Philosophy of Mathematics and Economics : image, context and perspective
Thomas A. Boylan and Paschal F. O'Gorman
- London : Routledge, c2018.
- xii, 242 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
- Routledge INEM advances in Economic methodology .
Introduction 1. Formalism in a new light: the Walras-Poincare Correspondence 2. The Neo-Walrasian Programme: Mathematics or Science? 3. Axiomatization in Economics: Conflicting Perspectives 4. The Constructivist Philosophy of Mathematics: Challenges to Orthodox Economic Theorizing? 5. Kaldor and the Critique of Equilibrium 6. Post-Keynesian Economics and Conventions: The Poincare Challenge to Current Analyses 7. Economic Methodology, Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Mathematics: A New Synthesis? Appendix: Poincare's Philosophy of Mathematics: An Overview
Philosophy of Mathematics and Economics re-analyses the divergent rationales for mathematical economics by some of its principal architects. Yet, it is not limited to simply enhancing our understanding of how economics became an applied mathematical science. The authors also critically evaluate developments in the philosophy of mathematics to expose the inadequacy of aspects of mainstream mathematical economics, as well as exploiting the same philosophy to suggest alternative ways of rigorously formulating economic theory for our digital age. This book represents an innovative attempt to more fully understand the complexity of the interaction between developments in the philosophy of mathematics and the process of formalisation in economics.