In principle, there are at least four ways to answer the question “History of
Economic Thought – what for?” One may fi rst speculate about possible uses and
purposes of the history of economic thought as revealed in the practice of teaching
the subject matter; employ methods of literary interpretation in surveying earlier
attempts along similar lines in order to amicably urge others to follow the guidelines
of a program thus derived. This is the approach characteristic of the largest part of
the substantial body of literature discussing the purposes of doctrinal history.
Second, we can consult the published record and determine what difference the
use of historical analysis makes in published research. This will yield but a distorted
picture. In many European universities, the emphasis on publishing research is
much slighter than in their North American counterparts. Scholars like the late Piero
Sraffa often command respect primarily for their contributions to the oral tradition.
While the oral tradition has always remained important, 4 publishing research has
become more important in European academe over the last few years, but was
almost accidental before. 5
Third, one could analyze survey data. While the problems associated with this
method are generally recognized, this often proves to be the only feasible method.
Fourth, an analysis of the course titles of the history of economic thought classes
taught will reveal a great deal about their contents. While in America, course titles
tend to be standardized and are unlikely to vary with the instructor who happens to
teach the course, this is most likely not so in the German, Austrian, and Swiss university.
The curriculum guidelines tend to be more general, and each chair is generally
responsible for the development of an area of research and instruction in a
particular subdiscipline of economics. Hence, the course titles (and contents) are the
work of the professor who offers the course and who tries to announce precisely
what the course is going to be about.
The literature analysis revealed the following purposes commonly claimed for
the history of economic thought instruction. 6 Table 1.1 lists purposes, an exemplary
bibliographical source, and a category to which the purpose has been assigned in
order to make the empirical task more manageable.
It should be obvious that this list of purposes, as long as it is, cannot possibly be
said to be fully complete. There may be as many different purposes as there are