Rothbard mentions in Americas Great Depression, p 85 that Austrian theory refute the method of subjecting theories to historical facts, to validate them, then he suggests Mises, Hayek or Robbins for an expanded defens of this refutation.
My questions is simply, where do I start? What work would you suggest I read for an understanding of this defense?
Thanks
/H
Well, if you go to this thread: Praxeology: reading list you will find plenty of information concerning methodology.
In particular I’d recommend Rothbard’s Praxeology: The Methodoloy of the Austrian School, Hoppe’s Economics Science and the Austrain Method (this is the best IMO), Saleron’s What is a Causal - Realist Approach and Huerta de Soto’s The ongoing methodenstreit of the Austrian School.
Those are the ones that I found very useful anyway.
But as I said, if you go to that thread there’s plenty.
Here are two Mises U lessons I found quite informative when I first started looking into it:
Austrian vs. Neo-classical Methodology - Bob Murphy
Praxeology: The Austrian Method - Roderick Long
Also, you might want to read Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason. It’s not nessesary, but It’ll give you a beter understanding of at least the epistemological foundation for the a priori praxeological method. I myself haven’t read it yet.
Was Mises or any other of the Austrians, Kantian?
I know Mises was and Hoppe is but other than that I’m not sure.
Most are Kantians of a realist bent. Some, like Rothbard, Barry Smith, Geoffrey Plauche, Roderick Long, Yates &c. are neo-Aristotelians.
-Jon
If you want an introduction to Economic Methodology in the Twentieth Century (including austrian and its rivals), i’d recomend “Beyond Positivism” from Bruce Caldwell. Exellent book, he is the Editor from the Collected works of F A Hayek for the Chicago Press. By