4 The philosophical basis for advancing knowledge in ecological economics
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Clive L. Spash
Abstract
Ecological economics has been labelled both a subfield of mainstream neoclassical economics, in a modern positivist tradition, and a post-normal science, in a postmodern constructionist tradition. This chapter starts by explaining the arguments for and meaning of pluralism. It reveals the contradictions of its ecological economic advocates and particularly criticise their failure to reject orthodox mainstream economics and instead present apologetic arguments for continued use of its methodology and methods. The chapter next turns to the foundational positions that can create a positive alternative social ecological economics. Employing critical realism as an aid, it works through a series of philosophical presuppositions - reality independent of humans, truth in science, limits to empirical knowledge, how we can have knowledge in a changing world and the similarities across social and natural sciences. The chapter brings together various reflections on how knowledge can be created.
Abstract
Ecological economics has been labelled both a subfield of mainstream neoclassical economics, in a modern positivist tradition, and a post-normal science, in a postmodern constructionist tradition. This chapter starts by explaining the arguments for and meaning of pluralism. It reveals the contradictions of its ecological economic advocates and particularly criticise their failure to reject orthodox mainstream economics and instead present apologetic arguments for continued use of its methodology and methods. The chapter next turns to the foundational positions that can create a positive alternative social ecological economics. Employing critical realism as an aid, it works through a series of philosophical presuppositions - reality independent of humans, truth in science, limits to empirical knowledge, how we can have knowledge in a changing world and the similarities across social and natural sciences. The chapter brings together various reflections on how knowledge can be created.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vi
- Preface vii
- I Radical foundations 1
- 1 Historical foundations and foundational conflicts 3
- 2 Addressing the environmental crisis 19
- II Philosophical foundations 57
- 3 Issues in history and philosophy of science with implications for economics 59
- 4 The philosophical basis for advancing knowledge in ecological economics 73
- 5 Revolutionary transformative science 99
- III Social ecological economic foundations 113
- 6 Reorienting to social ecological economics 115
- 7 Integration of social, ecological and economic knowledge 141
- 8 Clarifying division and seeking unity 164
- 9 An alternative economics for alternative economies 197
- References 220
- Index 251
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vi
- Preface vii
- I Radical foundations 1
- 1 Historical foundations and foundational conflicts 3
- 2 Addressing the environmental crisis 19
- II Philosophical foundations 57
- 3 Issues in history and philosophy of science with implications for economics 59
- 4 The philosophical basis for advancing knowledge in ecological economics 73
- 5 Revolutionary transformative science 99
- III Social ecological economic foundations 113
- 6 Reorienting to social ecological economics 115
- 7 Integration of social, ecological and economic knowledge 141
- 8 Clarifying division and seeking unity 164
- 9 An alternative economics for alternative economies 197
- References 220
- Index 251
