Keynes on Atomism and Organicism

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

14 p.

Publication Date

12-1989

Publisher

Wiley

Source Publication

Economic Journal

Source ISSN

0013-0133

Abstract

The article looks into John M. Keynes on atomism and organicism. It is noted that early in his intellectual career, Keynes concluded that an explanation of moral value required that the scope of the principle of organic unities be the individual mind, and this conclusion, in its subjectivist ramifications, ultimately implied that economics be considered a branch of logic, a way of thinking or a moral science. At the same time, that Keynes never defended nor explained his basic assumption that the individual mind is an organic unity perhaps because this assumption was originally but an initial step in a plausible critique of Moore, and perhaps because it fit Keynes's own individualist predilections leaves difficult questions concerning the understanding of individuals and their interrelationships in his economics.

Comments

Accepted version. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Davis, John B. “Keynes on Atomism and Organicism”. Economic Journal, Vol. 99, No. 398 (December 1989): 1159-1172, which has been published in final form at here: Permalink. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS