Introduction

No fundamental study of Keynes’s philosophy and its relations to his economics and politics has previously been undertaken. The intention of this book is to remedy the omission, and in so doing to disclose a significant part of the foundations of his thought. Though often ignored, it deserves attention that Keynes was a philosopher-economist, a member of that notable tradition inclusive of Smith, Mill, Marx, Jevons and others, which has figured so prominently in the development of modern thought and society. As might be expected, his philosophy throws considerable light on his thought as a whole, and on his economics and politics in particular. Such an investigation is of interest from theoretical, practical and historical viewpoints, for Keynes and the issues he addressed remain at the heart of much debate. The topic of rationality, now revived in philosophy, continues as an area of criticism and enquiry in economics. The difficulties besetting Neoclassical economics are recognised and the search for alternatives continues. Uncertainty, expectations, probability and information are now prominent in theoretical analysis, while the goals of policy and the role of the state remain central political questions. Even if not accepted in their original forms, Keynes’s ideas remain sources of encouragement in the restless search for better analytical frameworks, practical principles and social goals.