TY  - JOUR
AB  - A prima facie case is made that neo‐classical thinking is
meaningfully influenced by the philosophy of pragmatism. Three major
aspects of this philosophy are considered based on the writings of
leading pragmatists and instrumentalists such as James and Dewey. These
aspects include the cosmology, the axiology and the methodology of
pragmatism. The ways in which these three aspects manifest themselves in
neoclassical thought are then examined and identified. Among other
things it is concluded that a certain unresolved tension exists within
the pragmatist′s view which is also carried over into economic thinking.
This tension at least partly accounts for the existence of
neo‐institutionalists who likewise claim a pragmatist influence in their
work but who are critical of neoclassical thought. The article concludes
by pointing out some problems in this philosophy.
VL  - 17
IS  - 5
SN  - 0306-8293
DO  - 10.1108/EUM0000000000452
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000000452
AU  - Ancil Ralph E.
PY  - 1990
Y1  - 1990/01/01
TI  - Pragmatism in Neoclassical Thought
T2  - International Journal of Social Economics
PB  - MCB UP Ltd
SP  - 31
EP  - 53
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -