When an argument in the political economy designated method controversy of the political economy, which was led mainly into the 1880er and 1890er years in the German-speaking countries between the Austrian school and the historical school.

In fremdsprachigen texts method controversy is meant, in Germany also different arguments is usually designated in such a way "“this controversy with the Germanism "„(see method controversy).

Process

The controversy began, when the Viennese economist Carl Menger published 1883 the work investigations in particular over the method of the social sciences and the political economics, in which it its opinions for the correct methodology of the economic science stated. These stood in glaring contrast to the Lehrmeinung of the historical school, which controlled the German universities since the establishment of realm 1871. The theses Mengers were in such a way provokant the fact that the Historisten, everything in front Gustav of Schmoller which so far ignored Menger attacked. This answered 1884 with the writing of historicism in the German political economy. The controversy continued now over various essays and articles and came to succumbing, when Schmoller did not answer any longer.

Contents

The italic key words are to serve for only to a rough classification and confrontation.

(Younger) the historical school represented the view that it does not give constant laws of human acting and therefore an independent economic science in the kind of the natural sciences is impossible (irrationalism). Primary investigation object of the political economy is the society as a whole (collectivism); these and the procedures therein are however local and time-dependently and in continuing change (relativism). Task of the economist is it to collect data and to develop from this by induction systematic descriptions, which move in the context of general history. A second science of human acting apart from the science of history is impossible.

Menger held against it the investigation of individual human acting (individualism) for the starting point of the economic science. Under use of logical deduction very probably generally accepted and constant laws of human acting are derivable on the basis of the principle of the use maximization (existence "„absolute "“truths). Task of the economist is it to recognize these by rational analysis (rationalism). Thus the economic science is possible as independent and accurate science.

In the background the controversy went also around the question of the correct economic policy. The Historisten, which overlapped with the Kathedersozialismus, demanded here an active intervention of the state and endorsed - when "„intellectual body guard of the house Hohenzollern "“- generally a strong state ("„Prussian socialism "“), whereas the Austrians set on classical laissez-faire liberalism. Into the controversy inside already the question about the value judgement liberty in the economic science and/or science played at all, which was brought up for discussion later in "„second "“or "„recent method controversy "“between Schmoller and max of webers (see for this method controversy and value judgement controversy). Last the controversy was also a personal argument of the rivals Menger and from Schmoller.

Effect and result

The controversy was particularly important for the Austrian school, which assembled in the process of the argument at all only, when Eugen of Bawerk and Friedrich of Wieser Mengers opinions supported. The term "„Austrian school "“was coined/shaped only during the argument and was originally used as defamation of sides of the Historisten, in order to underline the alleged of the Austrians. These took over it however later.

There was not a winner in the sense that a side would have convinced the other one. Compared to the starting situation however afterwards the Austrian school was clearly strengthened and broken the total hegemony of the historical school. In 20. Century won the Austrian school - however in some questions moved away from its point of view at that time - world-wide influence and is today present until, while the historical school in pure teachings does not exist practically any longer. Most today's theories stand however between the extremes and theses of both sides took over.

Articles in category "Method controversy of the political economy"

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