Philip Mirowski
Encyclopedia
Philip Mirowski is a historian
and philosopher of economic thought at the University of Notre Dame
. He received a PhD in Economics
from the University of Michigan
in 1979.
has drawn inspiration from economics and how economics has sought to emulate physics, especially with regard to the theory of value
. He traces the development of the energy
concept in Western physics and its subsequent effect on the invention and promulgation of neoclassical economics
, the modern orthodox theory.
In his book Machine Dreams, Mirowski explores the historical influences of the military and the cyborg
sciences on neoclassical economics. The neglected influence of John von Neumann
and his theory of automata
are key themes throughout the book. Mirowski claims that many of the developments in neoclassical economics
in the 20th century, from game theory
to computational economics
, are the unacknowledged result of von Neumann's plans for economics. The work expands Mirowski's vision for a computational economics, one in which various market types are constructed in a similar fashion to Noam Chomsky
's Generative grammar
. The role of economics is to explore how various market types perform in measures of complexity and efficiency, with more complicated markets being able to incorporate the effects of the less complex. By complexity Mirowski means something analogous to Computational complexity theory
in computer science
.
Tom Scheiding is noted protege of Dr. Mirowski. He was a graduate student from 1999- 2006. He taught at Elizabethtown College from 2006-2010. Now he is teaching at the prestigious University of Wisconsin-Stout. Other students at the time were: Eddie Nik-Khah(Roanoke College), Adia Ramos, and Kyu Sang Lee.
History of economic thought
The history of economic thought deals with different thinkers and theories in the subject that became political economy and economics from the ancient world to the present day...
and philosopher of economic thought at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. He received a PhD in Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1979.
Career
In his book More Heat than Light, Mirowski reveals a history of how physicsPhysics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
has drawn inspiration from economics and how economics has sought to emulate physics, especially with regard to the theory of value
Value (economics)
An economic value is the worth of a good or service as determined by the market.The economic value of a good or service has puzzled economists since the beginning of the discipline. First, economists tried to estimate the value of a good to an individual alone, and extend that definition to goods...
. He traces the development of the energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
concept in Western physics and its subsequent effect on the invention and promulgation of neoclassical economics
Neoclassical economics
Neoclassical economics is a term variously used for approaches to economics focusing on the determination of prices, outputs, and income distributions in markets through supply and demand, often mediated through a hypothesized maximization of utility by income-constrained individuals and of profits...
, the modern orthodox theory.
In his book Machine Dreams, Mirowski explores the historical influences of the military and the cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
sciences on neoclassical economics. The neglected influence of John von Neumann
John von Neumann
John von Neumann was a Hungarian-American mathematician and polymath who made major contributions to a vast number of fields, including set theory, functional analysis, quantum mechanics, ergodic theory, geometry, fluid dynamics, economics and game theory, computer science, numerical analysis,...
and his theory of automata
Automata
Automata is the plural form of automaton, a self-operating machine. It may also refer to:* "Automata", a short story by E. T. A. Hoffmann* "Automata", a hardboiled science fiction crime series by Penny Arcade...
are key themes throughout the book. Mirowski claims that many of the developments in neoclassical economics
Neoclassical economics
Neoclassical economics is a term variously used for approaches to economics focusing on the determination of prices, outputs, and income distributions in markets through supply and demand, often mediated through a hypothesized maximization of utility by income-constrained individuals and of profits...
in the 20th century, from game theory
Game theory
Game theory is a mathematical method for analyzing calculated circumstances, such as in games, where a person’s success is based upon the choices of others...
to computational economics
Computational economics
Computational economics is a research discipline at the interface between computer science and economic and management science. Areas encompassed include agent-based computational modeling, computational modeling of dynamic macroeconomic systems and transaction costs, other applications in...
, are the unacknowledged result of von Neumann's plans for economics. The work expands Mirowski's vision for a computational economics, one in which various market types are constructed in a similar fashion to Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
's Generative grammar
Generative grammar
In theoretical linguistics, generative grammar refers to a particular approach to the study of syntax. A generative grammar of a language attempts to give a set of rules that will correctly predict which combinations of words will form grammatical sentences...
. The role of economics is to explore how various market types perform in measures of complexity and efficiency, with more complicated markets being able to incorporate the effects of the less complex. By complexity Mirowski means something analogous to Computational complexity theory
Computational complexity theory
Computational complexity theory is a branch of the theory of computation in theoretical computer science and mathematics that focuses on classifying computational problems according to their inherent difficulty, and relating those classes to each other...
in computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
.
Tom Scheiding is noted protege of Dr. Mirowski. He was a graduate student from 1999- 2006. He taught at Elizabethtown College from 2006-2010. Now he is teaching at the prestigious University of Wisconsin-Stout. Other students at the time were: Eddie Nik-Khah(Roanoke College), Adia Ramos, and Kyu Sang Lee.
See also
- American philosophyAmerican philosophyAmerican philosophy is the philosophical activity or output of Americans, both within the United States and abroad. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes that while American philosophy lacks a "core of defining features, American Philosophy can nevertheless be seen as both reflecting and...
- List of American philosophers
- ErgosophyErgosophyErgosophy is a term coined by the scientist Frederick Soddy, in the early 1920s, and refers to aspects of energy in relation to human existence and energy measurement as in...
- The Trap (TV Documentary Series) Mirowski features in "The Trap", a BBC Documentary.
External links
- Homepage of Philip Mirowski
- A long review of Machine Dreams, as well as a public discussion.
- Review by Stephen Durlauf of Mirowski's book The Effortless Economy of Science?