I have yet to read Human Action, and even though I’ve read books and articles which mention praxeology, I’ve never really understood it. Anyone want to give me a simple explanation and/or a short article in layman’s terms? It would be appreciated.
Libertyandlife:
Here’s my take.
Praxeology is a “mathematic” (a logic) applied, not to spatio-temporal nature, and not to propositional exchanges, but to intentionality.
Praxeology is the logic of goal directed or purposive activity.
If a logic of human action can be successfully constructed, it will provide us with logical laws of equivalence showing us how phenomenon B is logically entailed in phenomenon A.
Something like (but not exactly like): 24 (A) = 8 x 3 (B)
Here, in one formulation, there is at once, a law of equivalence (equality), and also, an implication (B) to an original phenomenon (A), which implication may not be immediately discernable upon an apprehension of A absent any further logical or praxeological knowledge.
That is, logic shows how implied in 24 is three groups of 8.
If a similar kind of logic can be successfully applied to human intentional acts, then we would similarly be provided with a law of equivalence showing how A = B, and at the same time, showing how B is implied in A, yet in some sense, not identical to A. (similar to above)
If praxeology can demonstrate a hidden or previously unknown logical entailment (B) to an act (A) that person P is considering , then praxeology can provide person P with information about the “necessary consequences” of his planned act A. In cases where P wants to avoid B, he is instructed by praxeological knowledge that B must occur if he is successful in attaining A or bringing A to fruition. P is shown how he must abstain from A if he wishes to avoid the occurence of B. This provides P with a self-interested reason for abstaining from an attempt at A, that is independent of the moral or ethical norms of other people (Q,R,S, etc.) who may want P to abstain from causing A to happen for their own reasons.
That is, praxeology provides P with knowledge of how his own act is counter to his own interests as he understands them, and thus praxeology provides P with a reason for abstaining from an attempt at A out of his own self-interest. If he believes that B must occur if A occurs, and if he wants to avoid B, he will abstain from an attempt at A, absent the interpersonal threats of Q,R, and S, and absent government intervention of Q,R, and S.
Praxeological knowledge provides the intellectual basis for behavior self-constraint without the need for interpersonal or governmental coercion or strife. Praxeological knowledge is the pre-condition for a free society, since it provides P with a reason besides the threats of Q,R, and S to abstain from an attempt at A. As praxeological knowledge expands and becomes more widely known and acknowledged, people begin to abstain from activities they would otherwise have undertaken, out of self-interest. Others in society experience this self-interested abstention as a lessening of behaviour or activities they would have considered harmful to their own interests.