Sul potere delle idee del passato

On the Power of Ideas in the Past

Abstract disponibile solo in lingua inglese

Though opponents in economics, Hayek and Keynes agree on the power of ideas of the past. But their approach to science differs. Hayek, once he had discovered the systematic character of his own thought, consciously set out to integrate into one coherent system the theories he developed in the wide variety of domains that he studied. This reflects an objectivist view of science. Keynes, on the other hand, followed a personalist approach to science in which the intuitions and rhetorical skills of the theorist have a crucial role to play. Now that both men have become figures of the past, a system of ideas such as Hayek's has more potential to remain a powerful influence than the collection of insights that constitute Keynes' thought.