论经济学中的实在论问题

On the Problem of Realism in Economics

科学实在论是当代科学哲学中的一个重要的方法论立场,其中的某些分支已经在经济学方法论文献中占有一定地位。梅基和劳森是经济学方法论中的两位主要的实在论者。科斯始终把经济现象看作独立的真实存在物,始终坚持理论的要素应该有所指,他的著作是经济学中的科学实在论的代表作。由于科学实在论是经济学方法论中的少数派观点,因而科斯的经济探究与主流经济学大异其趣。

Scientific realism is one of the important methodological positions in the philosophy of science,and certain brands of it have made their way into the literature on economic methodology.Uskali Maki and Tony Lawson are two most important realists in economic methodology.Coase consistently treated economic phenomena as having independent real existence,and treated elements of economic theory as referential,his writings are typical works of scientific realism in economics.Since scientific realism is a minority view in economic methodology,Coase's economic inquiry is very different from mainstream economics.