Philosophy of economics
A.A. 2022/2023
Obiettivi formativi
The course aims at familiarizing students with the main philosophical debates concerning the status of economics as a science, as well as its moral and political dimension.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the students
- will learn to analyse and evaluate critically the main epistemological and normative critiques of mainstream (neoclassical) economics, as well as the main arguments in its favour;
- will understand arguments concerning the use of idealized models and the problems faced by social scientists when they try to forecast economic events;
- will learn the difference between nomological and causal explanations, and the pros and cons of theory-testing in the laboratory and in the field.
- will understand the main arguments in favour of market institutions, as well as the critiques that highlight their limits;
- will know how different conceptions of welfare, equality and justice play a role in the evaluation of economic policies.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the students
- will be able to analyse and critically assess the main arguments brought in favour and against different philosophical positions concerning the methodology of economics and the normative evaluation of economic policies;
- will be able to identify the ways in which these debates may be resolved, and how their solutions may contribute to scientific progress and understanding;
- will be able to present the main arguments independently, satisfying the main requirements of scholarly writing.
At the end of the course the students
- will learn to analyse and evaluate critically the main epistemological and normative critiques of mainstream (neoclassical) economics, as well as the main arguments in its favour;
- will understand arguments concerning the use of idealized models and the problems faced by social scientists when they try to forecast economic events;
- will learn the difference between nomological and causal explanations, and the pros and cons of theory-testing in the laboratory and in the field.
- will understand the main arguments in favour of market institutions, as well as the critiques that highlight their limits;
- will know how different conceptions of welfare, equality and justice play a role in the evaluation of economic policies.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course the students
- will be able to analyse and critically assess the main arguments brought in favour and against different philosophical positions concerning the methodology of economics and the normative evaluation of economic policies;
- will be able to identify the ways in which these debates may be resolved, and how their solutions may contribute to scientific progress and understanding;
- will be able to present the main arguments independently, satisfying the main requirements of scholarly writing.
Periodo: Secondo semestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Secondo semestre
Programma
- Equilibri ed efficienza
- L'economia del benessere
- La giustizia economica
- I limiti dei mercati
- Teorie e modelli economici
- Idealizzazione e spiegazione
- Causalità ed econometria
- L'economia del benessere
- La giustizia economica
- I limiti dei mercati
- Teorie e modelli economici
- Idealizzazione e spiegazione
- Causalità ed econometria
Prerequisiti
Nessuno, ma una conoscenza di base della filosofia della scienza e/o della microeconomia può essere d'aiuto
Metodi didattici
Lezioni frontali e seminari di lettura
Materiale di riferimento
Questa bibliografia è preliminare e soltanto indicativa. Il sillabo definitivo, e altro material didattico, si trova sulla piattaforma online Ariel di questo corso (ariel.unimi.it).
· Hausman, D., McPherson, M. and Satz, D. (2017) Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy. Cambridge University Press (selected chapters).
· Robbins, L. (1932) An Essay on the Nature and Significance of Economic Science. MacMillan. Chapter 6
· Sen, A. (1999) On Ethics and Economics. Blackwell, Chapter 2.
· Rawls, J. "Distributive Justice", in Ryan (ed.) Justice, Oxford UP 1993; also in Stewarts (ed.) Readings in Political Philosophy.
· Nozick, R. (1974) "Distributive Justice", Philosophy & Public Affairs 3: 45-126.
· Sen, A. (2003) "Development as capability expansion." Readings in Human Development. Concepts, Measures and Policies for a Development Paradigm, pp. 3-16.
· Sandel, M. (1998) "What Money Can't Buy", The Tanner Lectures on Human Values.
· Friedman, M. (1953) "The Methodology of Positive Economics", in Essays in Positive Economics. University of Chicago Press.
· Mäki, U. (2005) "Models are Experiments, Experiments are Models", Journal of Economic Methodology, 12: 303-315.
· Hoover, K. (2001) The Methodology of Empirical Macroeconomics, Chapter 4 ("Causality in Economics"), Cambridge University Press, pp. 91-111.
Oltre ai testi di cui sopra, gli studenti on frequentanti sono invitati a leggere
· Reiss, J. (2013) Philosophy of Economics: A Contemporary Introduction. Routledge
· Hausman, D., McPherson, M. and Satz, D. (2017) Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy. Cambridge University Press (selected chapters).
· Robbins, L. (1932) An Essay on the Nature and Significance of Economic Science. MacMillan. Chapter 6
· Sen, A. (1999) On Ethics and Economics. Blackwell, Chapter 2.
· Rawls, J. "Distributive Justice", in Ryan (ed.) Justice, Oxford UP 1993; also in Stewarts (ed.) Readings in Political Philosophy.
· Nozick, R. (1974) "Distributive Justice", Philosophy & Public Affairs 3: 45-126.
· Sen, A. (2003) "Development as capability expansion." Readings in Human Development. Concepts, Measures and Policies for a Development Paradigm, pp. 3-16.
· Sandel, M. (1998) "What Money Can't Buy", The Tanner Lectures on Human Values.
· Friedman, M. (1953) "The Methodology of Positive Economics", in Essays in Positive Economics. University of Chicago Press.
· Mäki, U. (2005) "Models are Experiments, Experiments are Models", Journal of Economic Methodology, 12: 303-315.
· Hoover, K. (2001) The Methodology of Empirical Macroeconomics, Chapter 4 ("Causality in Economics"), Cambridge University Press, pp. 91-111.
Oltre ai testi di cui sopra, gli studenti on frequentanti sono invitati a leggere
· Reiss, J. (2013) Philosophy of Economics: A Contemporary Introduction. Routledge
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
Esame scritto, nel corso del quale saranno valutati:
- il livello di conoscenza dei concetti di base utilizzati nel corso;
- la capacità di formulare sinteticamente alcuni principali problemi filosofici e le loro soluzioni;
- La capacità di illustrare in modo chiaro e rigoroso, e di analizzare in modo critico, un dibattito intorno a un problema filosofico discusso nelle lezioni del corso.
- il livello di conoscenza dei concetti di base utilizzati nel corso;
- la capacità di formulare sinteticamente alcuni principali problemi filosofici e le loro soluzioni;
- La capacità di illustrare in modo chiaro e rigoroso, e di analizzare in modo critico, un dibattito intorno a un problema filosofico discusso nelle lezioni del corso.
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Martedì 9.30-12.30, solo su appuntamento
Dipartimento di Filosofia, via Festa del Perdono 7, Cortile Ghiacciaia, ultimo piano