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Agency, functionalism, and all that. A Sraffian view

Author

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  • Sergio Cesaratto

    (Dipartimento di economia politica e statistica, Università di Siena (Italy))

Abstract

Former contributions examined the approach to institutions and economic history that can be derived from the classical and Marxian ‘surplus approach’. The present paper deals with the allegation levelled against historical materialism of organicism or functionalism. Organicism is said to look at individuals as passive vectors functionally serving in various capabilities the reproduction and destiny of society as a whole. In this way human agency in the operation and change of society is excluded or at least restrained. Methodological individualism is the traditional alternative supported both by neoclassical and by (some) Marxist schools. The literature over the ‘agency versus structure’ determination of human behaviour in social and human sciences is immense. Therefore, I limited myself to some authors that I deemed more appropriate in relation to the application of the classical surplus approach to institutions and economic history. I shall defend a functionalist view of society while giving space to individual intentional action and aspirations, albeit informed by historical conditioning circumstances. Historical reconstruction of the objective and subjective features of the economic formations under examination, rather than the empty and a-historical study of individual choices, unrelated to the social context, looks like the way to go. Agency must be historically contextualised.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergio Cesaratto, 2024. "Agency, functionalism, and all that. A Sraffian view," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 17(1), pages 48-84, Annual.
    • Handle: RePEc:bus:jphile:v:17:y:2024:i:1:n:3
    DOI: 10.46298/jpe.11637
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jon D. Wisman, 2023. "Why Ideology Exists," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(1), pages 200-217, January.
    2. Pierangelo Garegnani, 2024. "Value and Distribution in the Classical Economists and Marx," Springer Studies in the History of Economic Thought, in: Roberto Ciccone (ed.), Capital Theory, the Surplus Approach, and Effective Demand, pages 305-340, Springer.
    3. Sergio Cesaratto, 2015. "Neo-Kaleckian and Sraffian Controversies on the Theory of Accumulation," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(2), pages 154-182, April.
    4. Alessandro Le Donne, 2022. "Economic theory and philosophical anthropology: Marx, Gramsci, Sraffa and the study of human nature," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(6), pages 1111-1124, November.
    5. Joram Mayshar & Omer Moav & Luigi Pascali, 2022. "The Origin of the State: Land Productivity or Appropriability?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 130(4), pages 1091-1144.
    6. Andrea Ginzburg, 2015. "Two Translators: Gramsci and Sraffa," Contributions to Political Economy, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 34(1), pages 31-76.
    7. Sergio Cesaratto & Stefano Di Bucchianico, 2021. "The Surplus Approach, the Polanyian Tradition, and Institutions in Economic Anthropology and Archaeology," Annals of the Fondazione Luigi Einaudi. An Interdisciplinary Journal of Economics, History and Political Science, Fondazione Luigi Einaudi, Torino (Italy), vol. 55(1), pages 185-216, June.
    8. Anton D. Lowenberg, 1990. "Neoclassical Economics as a Theory of Politics and Institutions," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 9(3), pages 619-639, Winter.
    9. Roberto Veneziani, 2012. "Analytical Marxism," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 649-673, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giancarlo Ianulardo & Aldo Stella, 2024. "The concept of relation in methodological individualism and holism: a reply to a functionalist critique," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 17(1), pages 226-243, Annual.

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    JEL classification:

    • B40 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - General
    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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