On the Role of Paradigms in Finance (Alternative Voices in Contemporary Economics)

"Social theory can usefully be conceived in terms of four key paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist and radical structuralist. The four paradigms are founded upon different assumptions about the nature of society and each generates distinctive theories, concepts and analytical tools. Finance theory is based on the functionalist paradigm and for the most part finance theorists are unaware of the philosophical tradition to which they belong. By relating finance to the four paradigms, Kavous Ardalan provides a better understanding of the multifaceted nature of finance. He recommends theorists adopt a diversity of paradigms and discusses its benefits by application to the following phenomena: the development of academic finance, the mathematical language of academic finance, and the mathematics of academic finance, money, corporate governance, markets, technology, and education."--Jacket Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 14 1 Paradigms......Page 16 2 Organization of Academic Finance Paradigm......Page 24 3 Structure of Academic Finance Paradigm......Page 46 4 Methodology of Academic Finance Paradigm......Page 52 5 Theory and Practice of Academic Finance Paradigm......Page 66 6 Development of Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 74 7 Mathematical Language of Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 92 8 Mathematics and Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 102 9 Money and Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 110 10 Corporate Governance and Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 122 11 Markets and Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 132 12 Technology and Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 142 13 Teaching and Academic Finance: Four Paradigmatic Views......Page 152 14 Conclusion......Page 160 Bibliography......Page 164 C......Page 186 I......Page 187 M......Page 188 R......Page 189 T......Page 190 W......Page 191

Social theory can usefully be conceived in terms of four key paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist and radical structuralist. The four paradigms are founded upon different assumptions about the nature of society and each generates distinctive theories, concepts and analytical tools. Finance theory is based on the functionalist paradigm and for the most part finance theorists are unaware of the philosophical tradition to which they belong. By relating finance to the four paradigms, Ardalan's work offers a concise understanding of the multifaceted nature of finance. He recommends theorists adopt a diversity of paradigms and discusses its benefits by application to the following phenomena: the development of academic finance, the mathematical language of academic finance, the mathematics of academic finance, money, corporate governance, markets, technology and education.

Paradigms Organization of academic finance paradigm Structure of academic finance paradigm Methodology of academic finance paradigm Theory and practice of academic finance paradigm Development of academic finance: four paradigmatic views Mathematical language of academic finance: four paradigmatic views Mathematics and academic finance: four paradigmatic views Corporate governance and academic finance: four paradigmatic views Money and academic finance: four paradigmatic views Markets and academic finance: four paradigmatic views Technology and academic finance: four paradigmatic views Teaching and academic finance: four paradigmatic views Conclusion. Social theory can usefully be conceived in terms of four key paradigms: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist and radical structuralist. Finance theory is based on the functionalist paradigm and for the most part finance theorists are unaware of the philosophical tradition to which they belong. By offering an overview of the four paradigms, Ardalan's work offers a concise understanding of the multifaceted nature of finance