The Theory of the Individual in Economics: Identity and Value (Routledge Advances in Social Economics)

The concept of the individual and his/her motivations is a bedrock of philosophy. All strands of thought at heart contain to a particular theory of the individual. Economics, though, is guilty of taking this hugely important concept without questioning how we theorize it. This superb book remedies this oversight. The new approach put forward by Davies is to pay more attention to what moral philosophy may offer us in the study of personal identity, self consciousness and will. This crosses the traditional boundaries of economics and will shed new light on the distinction between positive and normative analysis in economics. With both heterodox and orthodox economics receiving a thorough analysis from Davies, this book is at once inclusive and revealing. "The concept of the individual is central to the understanding of behavior in economics. Different approaches in economics implicitly rely on different theories of the individual. Yet economics is guilty of using this very important concept without questioning how it is theorized. This book remedies this oversight." "The new approach put forward by John B. Davis employs identity analysis to understand theories of the individual in economics. It combines philosophy and economics to determine when theories of the individual are successful. With both heterodox and orthodox economics receiving a thorough analysis, this book is at once inclusive and systematic." "Davis has produced an original book that should become essential reading for all those interested in the study of economic philosophy and methodology, but will also be of great interest to philosophers and social scientists outside economics."--BOOK JACKET.

The concept of the individual and his/her motivations is a bedrock of philosophy. All strands of thought at heart come down to a particular theory of the individual. Economics, though, is guilty of taking this hugely important concept without questioning how we theorise it. This superb book remedies this oversight.
The new approach put forward by Davis is to pay more attention to what moral philosophy may offer us in the study of personal identity, self consciousness and will. This crosses the traditional boundaries of economics and will shed new light on the distinction between positive and normative analysis in economics. With both heterodox and orthodox economics receiving a thorough analysis from Davis, this book is at once inclusive and revealing.

The concept of the individual and his/her motivations is a bedrock of philosophy. All strands of thought at heart come down to a particular theory of the individual. Economics, though, is guilty of taking this hugely important concept without questioning how we theorise it. This superb book remedies this oversight. The new approach put forward by Davis is to pay more attention to what moral philosophy may offer us in the study of personal identity, self consciousness and will. This crosses the traditional boundaries of economics and will shed new light on the distinction between positive and normative analysis in economics. With both heterodox and orthodox economics receiving a thorough analysis from Davis, this book is at once inclusive and revealing.