Blog-Reference
The key message of Heterodoxy is that orthodox/mainstream economics is false. This is correct but curiously, since Veblen’s fundamental critique of Orthodoxy, Heterodoxy has never come up with the true theory: “As will become evident, there is more agreement on the defects of orthodox theory than there is on what theory is to replace it: but all agreed that the point of the criticism is to clear the ground for construction.” (Nell)
Construction, though, never happened. Instead of following the scientific protocol and performing the necessary Paradigm Shift Heterodoxy advocates pluralism: “The first distinction you draw is that the old paradigm (OPE) is anti-pluralist (as in classical physics), while the new paradigm (NPE) is pluralist (as in modern physics).” (Fullbrook, see intro)
This statement is proof of the utter scientific incompetence of traditional Heterodoxy. The first thing to notice is that Edward Fullbrook does NOT understand the elementary difference between hypothesis and theory. Most people don’t and this why the worst misnomer of all ‘conspiracy theory’ became popular. The correct designation for what is actually meant is ‘conspiracy hypothesis’. To confound hypothesis and theory is a sure indicator of idiocy.
Scientific research STARTS with a speculative idea, a possible explanation, a hypothesis. A hypothesis is an open invitation for discussion and a challenge to come forward with a better hypothesis. There are no restrictions for a hypothesis: “It does not matter that moos and goos cannot appear in the guess. You can have as much junk in the guess as you like, provided that the consequences can be compared with experiment.” (Feynman)
Scientific research ENDS with a theory. A materially/formally consistent theory is the best mental representation of reality that is humanly possible. Science is binary, i.e. true/false with nothing in between. The ultimate goal of science is true theory. The pluralism of hypotheses or opinions is only a transitory state: “That the settlement of opinion is the sole end of inquiry is a very important proposition.” (Peirce)
It is exactly the same in criminology. The statement 'A has murdered B' is either true or false. But every criminal investigation starts with the pluralism of hypotheses and suspects. Now, as Sherlock Holmes already taught, the very task of the detective is to eliminate hypotheses: “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” Hypothesis is plural and temporary, truth is singular and final.
Fullbrook’s example of the kidnapping case is entirely beside the point because he confounds hypothesis with paradigm. To switch in the course of an investigation between different and contradictory hypotheses is NOT the same as a Paradigm Shift.
More often than not, the argumentation becomes nutty when economists cite physics as an example. Edward Fullbrook is no exception: “Many, and probably most, of the wonderful advancements of modern science have, as Einstein and other greats so deeply appreciated, came about in a similar way, that is by altering the ‘focus’ or ‘theory’ or conceptual framework through which a particular realm of the real-world is viewed.”
This is true but thoroughly misleading. Einstein appreciated Paradigm Shifts BUT NOT the pluralism of theories, just the opposite: “They [Einstein and Dirac] agreed that science was fundamentally about explaining more and more phenomena in terms of fewer and fewer theories, a view they had read in Mill’s A System of Logic.” (Farmelo)
No physicist regarded the state of the 1920s/1930s with relativity theory on the one hand and quantum theory on the other as satisfactory. The challenge is the Grand Unified Theory. Feynman put it thus: “Some day, when physics is complete and we know all the laws, we may be able to start with some axioms, and no doubt somebody will figure out a particular way of doing it so that everything else can be deduced.”
To compare the proto-scientific state of economics with the advanced state of physics and then to characterize the manifest confusion and scientific incompetence of economists as “pluralist (as in modern physics)” is self-delusional or worse.
Both, relativity theory and quantum theory satisfy the scientific criteria of material and formal consistency. In economics, the four main approaches ― Walrasianism, Keynesianism, Marxianism, Austrianism ― are axiomatically false, materially/formally inconsistent and all got the pivotal economic concept of profit wrong. Neither orthodox nor heterodox economists understand the pivotal concept of their subject matter. This is like a physicist who does not understand the elementary concept of force or mass.
By advocating the pluralism of false theories, Heterodoxy is attempting to lower scientific standards to the point of anything-goes. Nobody talks more nonsense about methodology than Edward Fullbrook, Lars Syll, and Asad Zaman. What has to be realized is: either economics satisfies the well-defined scientific criteria of material and formal consistency or economics is OUTSIDE of science.#1 At the moment both Orthodoxy and traditional Heterodoxy are outside of science.
The task of Heterodoxy is to fully replace the current Orthodoxy and to become the new and better Orthodoxy. This requires the development of a superior theory. Traditional Heterodoxy has failed at this task.#2 This explains the attempts to lower scientific standards and the propagation of the pluralism of false theories: “If you believe in the correctness of your ideas, you do not want pluralism; you want your ideas to win out because they are correct.” (Colander et al.)#3
Egmont Kakarot-Handtke
#1 Science does NOT predict the future
#2 For details of the big picture see cross-references Heterodoxy
#3 For details about Constructive Heterodoxy see cross-references Paradigm Shift
Related 'How economists shoot themselves non-stop in the methodological foot' and 'Redefining economics' and 'From the pluralism of false models to the true economic theory' and 'Economists and the destructive power of stupidity' and 'The myth of economics knowledge' and 'Heterodoxy, too, is scientific garbage' and 'Eclecticism, anything goes, and the pluralism of false theories' and 'Economics: The pluralism of false theories is over' and 'Heterodoxy and Pluralism, too, are proto-scientific garbage ' and 'Throw them out! Orthodox and heterodox economists are unfit for science' and 'Cryptoeconomics ― the best of Real-World Economics Review’s spam folder' and 'Still beyond the reach of economists: The Holy Grail of Science' and 'First Lecture in New Economic Thinking' and '10 steps to leave cargo cult economics behind for good' and 'Wikipedia, economics, scientific knowledge, or political agenda pushing?' and 'The Paradigm Shift is an accomplished fact'.
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COPY of George McKee's post