Kenneth Boulding as a Moral Scientist
13 Pages Posted: 29 Jun 2011
Date Written: January 10, 2011
Abstract
Kenneth Boulding’s AEA presidential address argued that economics is a moral science. His view derived from his general systems theory thinking, his three systems view of human society, and his early contributions to evolutionary economics. Boulding’s argument that economics could not be value-free should be distinguished from other well-known views of economics as a moral science, such as Gunnar Myrdal’s. This paper discusses the development and nature of Boulding’s thinking about economics as a moral science in the larger context of his thinking.
Keywords: Boulding, moral science, general systems theory, three systems view, evolutionary economics
JEL Classification: A13, B31, B52
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation