Commentary and analysis on American politics, culture, and national identity, U.S. foreign policy and international relations, and the state of education
- from a neoconservative perspective! - Keeping an eye on the communist-left so you don't have to!
I think that the emphasis on economic modeling in political science has gone way too far. The trend is against any notion that political science should borrow from its mother, PHILOSOPHY, and as one who endured a 300-level international relations course, as well as majored in Poli Sci, many of the phony equations that get so much attention are absolute nonsense from an algebraic standpoint.
But doesn't the nature of philosophy as being relativistic marginalize any conclusions that are drawn, whereas an economic model will at least provide a tactile path from point A to point B?
Economic modeling is an important development in political science. It has improved the discipline by making it more rigorous. I see nothing wrong with it, as long as it doesn't become a dominant paradigm in political science.
Philosophy is not necessary relativistic, just because some philosophy undergraduates like to pretend to be relativists. Economics is not purely objective itself--otherwise all economists would agree on what causes economic growth.
Just because some philosophy undergrads pretend to be relativists doesn't mean philosophy is relativistic. If economics were purely objective, economists would agree on how to grow an economy, which they don't.
I think that the emphasis on economic modeling in political science has gone way too far. The trend is against any notion that political science should borrow from its mother, PHILOSOPHY, and as one who endured a 300-level international relations course, as well as majored in Poli Sci, many of the phony equations that get so much attention are absolute nonsense from an algebraic standpoint.
ReplyDeleteBut doesn't the nature of philosophy as being relativistic marginalize any conclusions that are drawn, whereas an economic model will at least provide a tactile path from point A to point B?
ReplyDeleteEconomic modeling is an important development in political science. It has improved the discipline by making it more rigorous. I see nothing wrong with it, as long as it doesn't become a dominant paradigm in political science.
ReplyDeletePhilosophy is not necessary relativistic, just because some philosophy undergraduates like to pretend to be relativists. Economics is not purely objective itself--otherwise all economists would agree on what causes economic growth.
ReplyDeleteJust because some philosophy undergrads pretend to be relativists doesn't mean philosophy is relativistic. If economics were purely objective, economists would agree on how to grow an economy, which they don't.
ReplyDelete