Philosophers of Capitalism: Menger, Mises, Rand, and Beyond

by Edward W. Younkins (Editor), Walter Block (Contribution by), Samuel Bostaph (Contribution by), Ricardo F. Crespo (Contribution by), Jeffrey M. Herbener (Contribution by)

Overview

Philosophers of Capitalism provides an interdisciplinary approach, attempting to discover the feasibility of an integration of Austrian Economics and Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. In the first section of the book, Edward W. Younkins supplies essays presenting the essential ideas of Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, and Ayn Rand. Building upon these essential ideas, the second portion of the book brings together scholarly perspectives from top academics, analyzing Menger, von Mises, and Rand. The third and final section of the book looks toward the future and the possibility of combining and extending the insights of these champions of a free society, emphasizing how the errors, omissions, and oversights made by one theorist can effectively be negated or compensated for by integrating insights from one or more of the others. Featuring a list of recommended reading for the major ideas and theorists discussed, Philosophers of Capitalism is an essential book for both philosophers and economists.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739110768
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	11/10/2005
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	7.24(w) x 9.22(h) x 1.11(d)

About the Author

Edward W. Younkins is Professor of Accountancy and Business Administration in the Department of Business at Wheeling Jesuit University.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Part 2 Essential Ideas Chapter 3 Carl Menger's Austrian Aristotelianism Chapter 4 Misesian Praxeology as the Path to Progress Chapter 5 Ayn Rand's Philosophy for Living on Earth Part 6 Scholarly Perspectives Chapter 7 The Methodological Debate Between Carl Menger and the German Historicists Chapter 8 Truth in Economic Subjectivism Chapter 9 Ludwig von Mises and the Paradigm for our Age Chapter 10 Ludwig von Mises and the Austrian School of Economics Chapter 11 Rand on Obligation and Value Chapter 12 The Growing Industry in Ayn Rand Scholarship Chapter 13 Aristotle, Menger, Mises: An Essay in the Metaphysics of Economics Chapter 14 The Libertarian Minimal State? A Critique of the Views of Nozick, Levin, and Rand Chapter 15 Austrian "Subjectivism" vs. Objectivism Chapter 16 Reappraising Austrian Economics' Basic Tenets in the Light of Aristotelian Ideas Chapter 17 Praxeology, Economics, and Law: Issues and Implications Chapter 18 Reason in Economics versus Ethics Part 19 The Future Chapter 20 Toward the Development of a Paradigm for a Free Society

Editorial Reviews

In his thought-provoking follow-up to Capitalism and Commerce, Edward Younkins makes a compelling case that the Austrian value-free defense of capitalism and the moral arguments of Aristotle and Ayn Rand are compatible and complimentary. He shows persuasively that the study of human action and of its grounding in natural law will reveal the intimate connection between economic and moral principles.

Martin Masse

Who says that capitalism has no poets? This collection arrives to prove that the history of ideas in our time is filled with wonderful celebrations of the free market. No intellectual task is more urgent than to explain the economic basis of civilization itself, a task which Philosophers of Capitalism accomplishes magnificently.

Llewellyn H. Rockwell

Only those who have a broad understanding of the social order can make consistent and knowledgeable judgments about the appropriateness of individual policy offerings. Philosophers of Capitalism provides a broad understanding and is an important work that everyone should have close at hand.

Gary Wolfram Gary Wolfram

Edward Younkins understands that the Objectivist philosophy, with its Aristotelian roots, is consistent with the Austrian economics that provide the best understanding of free market: indeed, one cannot have the one without the other. This book magnificently establishes the link between economics and morality.

Edward Hudgins

Only those who have a broad understanding of the social order can make consistent and knowledgeable judgments about the appropriateness of individual policy offerings. Philosophers of Capitalism provides a broad understanding and is an important work that everyone should have close at hand.

Gary Wolfram

Edward Younkins understands that the Objectivist philosophy, with its Aristotelian roots, is consistent with the Austrian economics that provide the best understanding of free market: indeed, one cannot have the one without the other. This book magnificently establishes the link between economics and morality.--Edward Hudgins, Executive Director, The Objectivist Center

Only those who have a broad understanding of the social order can make consistent and knowledgeable judgments about the appropriateness of individual policy offerings. Philosophers of Capitalism provides a broad understanding and is an important work that everyone should have close at hand.--Gary Wolfram, George Munsen Professor of Political Economy, Hillsdale College

Who says that capitalism has no poets? This collection arrives to prove that the history of ideas in our time is filled with wonderful celebrations of the free market. No intellectual task is more urgent than to explain the economic basis of civilization itself, a task which Philosophers of Capitalism accomplishes magnificently.--Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr., President, Ludwig von Mises Institute

From the Publisher