On Economic Man: An Essay On The Elements Of Economic Theory
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Wear and tear
Pages: Good
Markings: No markings
A rigorous work of economic philosophy and theory, On Economic Man: An Essay On The Elements Of Economic Theory by D. M. Bensusan-Butt presents a penetrating critique of the foundational assumptions underlying classical and neoclassical economics, particularly the abstract construct of economic man — the idealized, rational, self-interested agent at the heart of mainstream economic thought. Bensusan-Butt argues with clarity and intellectual precision that this theoretical abstraction, while analytically convenient, distorts our understanding of real human behavior and the actual workings of economic systems. The essay details the logical structure of economic theory, scrutinizing its core elements and exposing the tensions between formal models and the messy realities of human decision-making. Written in a measured yet incisive academic tone, the work challenges economists and students alike to interrogate the philosophical underpinnings of their discipline rather than accept its axioms uncritically. It stands as a thoughtful and enduring contribution to the methodology of economics, inviting readers to reconsider what economic theory can and cannot tell us about the world.
Author: D. M. Bensusan-Butt
Format: Hardback
Published: 1978, Australian National University Press, Canberra
Genre: Business & economics
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: Wear and tear
Pages: Good
Markings: No markings
A rigorous work of economic philosophy and theory, On Economic Man: An Essay On The Elements Of Economic Theory by D. M. Bensusan-Butt presents a penetrating critique of the foundational assumptions underlying classical and neoclassical economics, particularly the abstract construct of economic man — the idealized, rational, self-interested agent at the heart of mainstream economic thought. Bensusan-Butt argues with clarity and intellectual precision that this theoretical abstraction, while analytically convenient, distorts our understanding of real human behavior and the actual workings of economic systems. The essay details the logical structure of economic theory, scrutinizing its core elements and exposing the tensions between formal models and the messy realities of human decision-making. Written in a measured yet incisive academic tone, the work challenges economists and students alike to interrogate the philosophical underpinnings of their discipline rather than accept its axioms uncritically. It stands as a thoughtful and enduring contribution to the methodology of economics, inviting readers to reconsider what economic theory can and cannot tell us about the world.