The Social Science Library » Values as Consequences of Transaction: Commentary on ‘Reconciling Homo Economicus and John Dewey’s Ethics’

Values as Consequences of Transaction: Commentary on ‘Reconciling Homo Economicus and John Dewey’s Ethics’

Author(s)	Ryan, Frank X.
Abstract	Mark White hopes to incorporate John Dewey’s appeal to deliberation in preference formation into the neoclassical model of choice. White finds affinities between Dewey and neoclassicism: both reject preordained goals, value consequences above motives, and promote ‘scientific ethics.’ I claim Dewey’s actual theory of value and choice is more radically divergent, and may not simply be integrated with neoclassical model. Specifically, I claim: 1) White’s interactional view of agents acting in an environment falls short of Dewey’s transactional notion of their reciprocal determination within problem-solving activity; 2) beyond both preference and deliberation, the consequence of valuation activity is the final determinant of a good; 3) Dewey did not advocate relinquishing ethics to the natural and social sciences, but rather viewed moral behavior as the cultivation of a unique ‘art.’ [Note: White’s original article is also in the SSL.]
IssueNo	2
Pages	245-257
Article	Access to Article
Source	Journal of Economic Methodology
VolumeNo	10
PubDate	June2003
ISBN_ISSN	1350-178x
Browse Path(s)

Values as Consequences of Transaction: Commentary on ‘Reconciling Homo Economicus and John Dewey’s Ethics’