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Constructivist and Ecological Rationality in Economics

All those interested in extended mind/externalist/situated type thought should be aware of the field of Behavioral Economics (BE) in general and the work of Vernon Smith in particular. BE is a body of literature that was ploughing this trough some twenty years before the hypothesis of extended cognition took root in cognitive science. It is interesting…

Adam Smith’s Pluralism: Rationality, Education, and the Moral Sentiments

Keep an eye out for this forthcoming book by the very excellent Smith scholar Jack Weinstein who also happens to be contributing to Propriety and Prosperity: New Studies on the Philosophy of Adam Smith. Adam SmithEconomicsJack Russell WeinsteinJack WeinsteinLiberalismLibertarianismPhilosophyPhilosophy of EducationpluralismrationalityScottish EnlightenmentTheory of Moral SentimentWealth of Nations

Economics, cognitive science and social cognition

Here is the intro to Don’s paper: This essay concerns the role of economics in the interdisciplinary study of social cognition. Increasingly many economists believe that economics has such a role. Most who hold this opinion do so because they think that, to some extent, important parts of microeconomics should collapse into psychology. They think this…

Hayek in Beijing

This from the WSJ  “The Road to Serfdom.” Hayek’s book, he explains, was originally translated into Chinese in 1962 as “an ‘internal reference’ for top leaders,” meaning it was forbidden fruit to everyone else. Only in 1997 was a redacted translation made publicly available, complete with an editor’s preface denouncing Hayek as “not in line…

Hayek

Born on this day in 1899. It’s to analytical (social) epistemology’s (and philosophy of mind’s) impoverishment and shame that Hayek is not that well-known beyond the tiresome caricatures. For all my Hayekana see here. The featured image was very generously given to me by the highly exceptional Walt Weimer. Austrian Schoolcomplexityconsciousnessdistributed cognitiondistributed knowledgeEconomicsFriedrich Hayekphilosophical psychologyPhilosophy…

Sage Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Social Sciences

My chum Byron Kaldis’ big project has been brought to fruition. Bravo! My contribution: Hayek and the “Use of Knowledge in Society”. As you will see there is a terrific lineup – this is an exciting area to be in these days what with CogSci meeting social science – another project of Byron’s in the works.…

Hayek and Behavioral Economics

Still on Hayek. Having just received my copy, I thought I’d give it another plug. My chapter Mindscapes and Landscapes: Hayek and Simon on Cognitive Extension is in this collection. The full line-up as follows: Foreword; V. Smith Introduction; R. Frantz & R. Leeson Friedrich Hayek’s Behavioural Economics in Historical Context; R. Frantz A Hayekian/Kirznerian Economic History of…

Cosmos & Taxis

I want to bring your attention to a new journal that has just been launched. Complex adaptive systemComplex systemscomplexitycomplexity studiescosmos & taxisdistributed cognitiondistributed knowledgeEconomicsHayekphilosophy of economicsphilosophy of social sciencesocial epistemology

Beyond Complexity: Can the Sensory Order Defend the Liberal Self?

Here are a couple of extracts from Chor-yung’s paper: Friedrich Hayek’s social philosophy is one of the most systematic and sophisticated among the contributions made by 20th-century liberal thinkers. His defense of the free market and individual freedom and his critique of collectivism of various kinds are mainly based on his epistemological theses, which in…