The problem of indifference and homogeneity in Austrian economics: Nozick’s challenge revisited

Philosophical Problems in Science 71:9-44 (2021)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The pivotal point in the Austrian literature on homogeneity, choice and indifference was constituted by Nozick’s On Austrian Methodology. Nozick provoked a long debate on the above notions within Austrianism. The aim of this paper is to elaborate such an account of homogeneity that would take the sting out of Nozick’s challenge and allow for non-trivial formulation of the law of diminishing marginal utility. Hence, we shall first take a closer look at the debate on indifference within the Austrian camp, while defending and building upon the Hoppean account vis-à-vis Block’s criticism. Our justification of the Hoppean position shall consist in showing that his account of the correct description of an action is not an ad hoc move aimed at solving just one problem of indifference but is highly intuitive and widely applicable. We conclude by restating the above-mentioned law, thus demonstrating that the Nozickian objection can be successfully replied.

Links

PhilArchive

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Nozick’s libertarian critique of Regan.Josh Milburn - 2018 - Between the Species 21 (1).
On Robert Nozick's 'on austrian methodology'.Walter Block - 1980 - Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Philosophy 23 (4):397 – 444.
Political Authority and the Minimal State.Fabian Wendt - 2016 - Social Theory and Practice 42 (1):97-122.
The Squirrel and the State.Nicolas Maloberti - 2010 - The Independent Review 14 (3):377-387.
Feser on Nozick. [REVIEW]Peter Jaworski - 2005 - Journal of Ayn Rand Studies 7 (1):181-187.
On the homogeneity property for certain quantifier logics.Heike Mildenberger - 1992 - Archive for Mathematical Logic 31 (6):445-455.
The Possibility of Knowledge: Nozick and His Critics.Stephen Luper-Foy (ed.) - 1987 - Totowa, New Jersey: Rowman and Littlefield.
The Possibility of Knowledge: Nozick and His Critics.Luper-Foy Steven (ed.) - 1987 - Totowa, N.J.: Rowman & Littlefield.
The Meta-Reversibility Objection.Meacham Christopher - 2023 - In Barry Loewer, Brad Weslake & Eric B. Winsberg (eds.), The Probability Map of the Universe: Essays on David Albert’s _time and Chance_. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press.

Analytics

Added to PP
2021-12-31

Downloads
182 (#108,677)

6 months
86 (#55,813)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references