The Epistemological Implications of Machlup's Interpretation of Mises's Epistemology

2015. Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 111-138

48 Pages Posted: 7 Mar 2013 Last revised: 15 Feb 2020

See all articles by Gabriel J. Zanotti

Gabriel J. Zanotti

Universidad Austral

Nicolas Cachanosky

The University of Texas at El Paso; American Institute for Economic Research; UCEMA Friedman-Hayek Center for the Study of a Free Society

Date Written: November 4, 2013

Abstract

We argue that Machlup's (1955) interpretation of Mises’s epistemology is at least, if not more, plausible than Rothbard's (1957). The implications of Machlup’s interpretation of Mises and Austrian epistemology affect Austrians, non-Austrians and how they relate to each other. Machlup’s interpretation shows that Austrian’s epistemology is well grounded and that most criticisms of Austrian economics based on their aprioristic characteristic are misplaced. Furthermore, Machlup’s interpretation provides a potential road to re-built the academic interaction between Austrians and non-Austrians that was characteristic of the early twentieth century.

Keywords: Austrian economics, non-Austrian economics, Mises, Machlup, Rothbard, a priori, apriorism, Lakatos, Kuhn

Suggested Citation

Zanotti, Gabriel J. and Cachanosky, Nicolas, The Epistemological Implications of Machlup's Interpretation of Mises's Epistemology (November 4, 2013). 2015. Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Vol. 37, No. 1, pp. 111-138, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2229570 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2229570

Gabriel J. Zanotti

Universidad Austral ( email )

Juan de Garay 125
Buenos Aires, 1065
Argentina

Nicolas Cachanosky (Contact Author)

The University of Texas at El Paso

500 West University Avenue
El Paso, TX 79968
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.utep.edu/

American Institute for Economic Research

PO Box 1000
Great Barrington, MA 01230
United States

UCEMA Friedman-Hayek Center for the Study of a Free Society ( email )

Buenos Aires
Argentina

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