Several authors have detected a paradigm shift in contemporary science: from a reductionist or mechanicist approach to a holistic or systemic one. This transition in paradigms should be perceptible in several disciplines, starting in biology and extending itself to others areas. In light of the...

The article argues the need to preserve the pluralism in economics. The article examines: i) the nature of the knowledge and of its production; ii) the specificity of the knowledge production in economics and the historical and cultural conditionings of the knowledge; iii) the implications of the...

This paper examines Adam Smith's understanding of the philosophy and science, the motivations that lead us to investigate nature and society, and the proper methods of investigation and exposition. The paper also criticizes those authors that interpret Smith's work as an example of the...

This article examines Adam Smith’s Theory of moral sentiments. Taking as its point of departure the moral philosophy of the Scottish enlightenment, the paper presents the central argument of Smith’s Theory. It analyses the concepts of “sympathy” and “impartial spectator” and points...

We investigate the existence of national styles of political economy and suggest the characteristics and determinants of the German, Austrian, French, and English styles. Some methodological implications for the history economic thought are outlined.

This article explores why Smith's work is a turning point in the history of economic thought. The constitution of an economic discourse and the delimitation of the economy sphere are attributed to: i) the specific nature of Smith's moral philosophy; ii) his way of conceiving economic action as...

This paper examines the emergence of an economic discourse separated from ethics or political philosophy. It argues that the works of Locke are a decisive moment in this process, for disclosing the existence of a sphere of the economy distinct from the sphere of the politics. Furthermore, the...

The article argues the need to preserve the pluralism in economy. The article examines: i) the nature of the knowledge and of its production; ii) the specificity of the knowledge production in economics and the historical and cultural conditionings of the knowledge; iii) the implications of the...

We investigate the existence of national styles of political economy and suggest the characteristics and determinants of the German, Austrian, French, and English styles. Some methodological implications for the history economic thought are outlined

This paper examines the emergence of an economic discourse separated from ethics or political philosophy. It argues that the works of Locke are a decisive moment in this process, for disclosing the existence of a sphere of the economy distinct from the sphere of the politics. Furthermore, the...