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Why German historicists were wrong to put John Stuart through the Mill

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  • Phiilippe Gillig

Abstract

Many German historical economists have denounced classical political economy’s pretension to establish abstract universal laws. This paper seeks to defend John Stuart Mill against this criticism. It argues that, contrary to what these authors alleged, they have a great deal more in common with Mill on this topic than they were willing to realise. In fact, from a methodological as well as a political perspective, their views on relativity regarding both economic laws and the laissez-faire principle are very similar to those of Mill’s..

Suggested Citation

  • Phiilippe Gillig, 2016. "Why German historicists were wrong to put John Stuart through the Mill," Working Papers of BETA 2016-43, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2016-43
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    File URL: http://beta.u-strasbg.fr/WP/2016/2016-43.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Montes, Leonidas, 2003. "Das Adam Smith Problem: Its Origins, the Stages of the Current Debate, and One Implication for Our Understanding of Sympathy," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(1), pages 63-90, March.
    2. Anonymous, 1985. "Essays on French History and Historians. By John Stuart Mill. Edited by John M. Robson. (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1985. Pp. cxix + 517. $65.00.)," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 79(4), pages 1276-1276, December.
    3. Tribe,Keith, 1995. "Strategies of Economic Order," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521462914.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    German historical economics; H. Roesler; G. Schmoller; J. S. Mill; natural laws; epistemology; laissez-faire.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)
    • B15 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary
    • B40 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - General

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