Philosophy and Methodology

The rage among academic elites and multiculturalists is the insistence that one cannot apply Western economic analysis to different cultures. However, Ludwig von Mises insisted that economics is a universal science.

While Mises was a utilitarian, he believed people acted to improve their lot because of a felt uneasiness that could be rectified through free markets.

While Austrian and feminist critiques of neoclassical economics have some similarities, they also differ strongly on important points. Feminist critiques are based upon what Mises called polylogism, while Austrian critiques are based upon praxeology.

What are property rights and how do we define them? The late Butler Shaffer argued that they come from our “will to own.”

Mainstream economists believe that economic theory is valid when it “predicts” economic actions or trends. Austrian economists, however, say that the purpose of economic theory is to explain economic events.

The attempt by the mainstream economics profession to create economic literacy has turned into a movement to promote economic illiteracy.

While Austrian and feminist critiques of neoclassical economics have some similarities, they also differ strongly on important points. Feminist critiques are based upon what Mises called polylogism, while Austrian critiques are based upon praxeology.

While conservatives and followers of Austrian economics often have much in common, many conservatives are against free trade and free exchange. Austrians need to carefully explain why those beliefs are harmful.

The attempt by the mainstream economics profession to create economic literacy has turned into a movement to promote economic illiteracy.

Mainstream economists believe that economic theory is valid when it “predicts” economic actions or trends. Austrian economists, however, say that the purpose of economic theory is to explain economic events.