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Rational vs historical reconstructions. A note on Blaug

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  • Rodolfo Signorino

Abstract

The paper focuses on Blaug's distinction between rational and historical reconstruction within the historiography of economics. Blaug's distinction is shown to be sterile and misleading and his definitions of no avail to clear thinking. Historical reconstruction (as defined by Blaug) is en empty box for reasons which are basically theoretical and not simply practical (as Blaug seems to hold). Moreover, Blaug's primary polemical target is Whig historiography and not rational reconstruction: the two concepts coincide only by means of an ad hoc definition. Blaug's criticism does not apply to other uses of the concept of rational reconstruction such as that proposed by Lakatos.

Suggested Citation

  • Rodolfo Signorino, 2003. "Rational vs historical reconstructions. A note on Blaug," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 329-338.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:10:y:2003:i:2:p:329-338
    DOI: 10.1080/0967256032000066927
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mark Blaug, 1997. "Not Only an Economist," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1122.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fabio Cerina, 2009. "Marshall'S Ceteris Paribus In A Dynamic Framework," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(1), pages 24-53, February.
    2. Harro Maas, 2013. "A 2 x 2 = 4 hobby horse: Mark Blaug on rational and historical reconstructions," Chapters, in: Marcel Boumans & Matthias Klaes (ed.), Mark Blaug: Rebel with Many Causes, chapter 10, pages 125-145, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Mark Blaug, 2003. "Rational vs historical reconstruction - a counter-note on Signorino's note on Blaug," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(4), pages 607-608.

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