A defense of reasonable pluralism in economics. Issue 4 (2nd October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Larue, Louis
• Is Part Of: Journal of economic methodology. Volume 29:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 294
• Page End: 308
• Publication Date: 2022-10-02
• Subjects: Pluralism -- freedom of expression -- relativism -- schools of thought; Economics -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 330.072
• DOI: 10.1080/1350178X.2022.2112266
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-178X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article aims to defend a novel account of pluralism in economics. First, it argues that what justifies pluralism is its epistemological benefits. Second, it acknowledges that pluralism has limits, and defends reasonable pluralism, or the view that we should only accept those theories and methods that can be justified by their communities with reasons that other communities can accept. Clearly, reasonable pluralism is an ideal, which requires economists of different persuasions to respect certain norms of communication while evaluating each other's theories. The article ends with a discussion of the conditions under which reasonable communication becomes possible.