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Utilitarianism and Economic Behavior. Looking for Benthamite Traces

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Listed:
  • Jimena Hurtado
  • Johanna Mick

Abstract

In spite of the use of a utilitarian language in Rational Choice Theory, economists do not acknowledge any link to this current of moral philosophy, and have made great efforts to rid economics from its legacy. In this document we aim at assessing these efforts retracing their history from Pareto to Samuelson in order to determine how close they came to their ideal of formulating a positive science rid of what they called any metaphysical traces.

Suggested Citation

  • Jimena Hurtado & Johanna Mick, 2011. "Utilitarianism and Economic Behavior. Looking for Benthamite Traces," Documentos CEDE 9251, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    • Handle: RePEc:col:000089:009251
    as

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    File URL: https://repositorio.uniandes.edu.co/bitstream/handle/1992/8284/dcede2011-44.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Utilitarianism; Rational Choice Theory; Axiom of Revealed Preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)
    • B21 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Microeconomics
    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals

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