Theoretical and Practical Reason in Economics : Capacities and Capabilities

The aim of the book is to argue for the restoration of theoretical and practical reason to economics. It presents Nancy Cartwright and Amartya Sens ideas as cases of this restoration and sees Aristotle as an influence on their thought. It looks at how we can use these ideas to develop a valuable understanding of practical reason for solving concrete problems in science and society. Cartwrights capacities are real causes of events. Sens capabilities are the human persons freedoms or possibilities. They relate these concepts to Aristotelian concepts. This suggests that these concepts can be combined. Sens capabilities are Cartwrights capacities in the human realm; capabilities are real causes of events in economic life. Institutions allow us to deliberate on and guide our decisions about capabilities, through the use of practical reason. Institutions thus embody practical reason and infuse certain predictability into economic action. The book presents a case study: the UNDPs HDI.​