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Rationality and Irrationality in Economics
An analysis of social and economic systems and why they appear and disappear throughout history.
This book is the result of a research project begun by the author in 1958 with the aim of answering two questions:
First, what is the rationality of the economic systems that appear and disappear throughout history—in other words, what is their hidden logic and the underlying necessity for them to exist, or to have existed?
Second, what are the conditions for a rational understanding of these systems—in other words, for a fully developed comparative economic science?
The field of investigation opened up by these two questions is vast, touching on the foundations of social reality and on how to understand them. The author, being a Marxist, sought the answers, as he writes, ‘not in philosophy or by philosophical means, but in and through examining the knowledge accumulated by the sciences.’ The stages of his journey from philosophy to economics and then to anthropology are indicated by the divisions of his book.
Godelier rejects, at the outset, any attempt to tackle the question of rationality or irrationality of economic science and of economic realities from the angle of an a priori idea, a speculative definition of what is rational. Such an approach can yield only, he feels, an ideological result. Rather, he treats the appearance and disappearance of social and economic systems in history as being governed by a necessity ‘wholly internal to the concrete structures of social life.
This book is the result of a research project begun by the author in 1958 with the aim of answering two questions:
First, what is the rationality of the economic systems that appear and disappear throughout history—in other words, what is their hidden logic and the underlying necessity for them to exist, or to have existed?
Second, what are the conditions for a rational understanding of these systems—in other words, for a fully developed comparative economic science?
The field of investigation opened up by these two questions is vast, touching on the foundations of social reality and on how to understand them. The author, being a Marxist, sought the answers, as he writes, ‘not in philosophy or by philosophical means, but in and through examining the knowledge accumulated by the sciences.’ The stages of his journey from philosophy to economics and then to anthropology are indicated by the divisions of his book.
Godelier rejects, at the outset, any attempt to tackle the question of rationality or irrationality of economic science and of economic realities from the angle of an a priori idea, a speculative definition of what is rational. Such an approach can yield only, he feels, an ideological result. Rather, he treats the appearance and disappearance of social and economic systems in history as being governed by a necessity ‘wholly internal to the concrete structures of social life.
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
About the author
Maurice Godelier
88 books43 followersOne of the most influential names in French anthropology who works as the Directeur d'études at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales. Best known as one of the earliest advocates of Marxism's incorporation into anthropology, he is also known for his field work among the Baruya in Papua New Guinea that spanned three decades from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Among the many honors he has received are the CNRS Gold Medal and the Alexander von Humboldt prize. His major works include The Making of Great Men, The Metamorphoses of Kinship, The Enigma of the Gift, In and Out of the West, and, more recently, Lévi-Strauss: A Critical Study of His Thought.
Among the many honors he has received are the CNRS Gold Medal and the Alexander von Humboldt prize. His major works include The Making of Great Men, The Metamorphoses of Kinship, The Enigma of the Gift, In and Out of the West, and, more recently, Lévi-Strauss: A Critical Study of His Thought.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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May 25, 2026economic rationality as contingent on economic structure, a discussion of how Marx analyzes economic structure in Capital through his method, and a discussion on various kinds of economic structure in anthropology.
some very interesting remarks in here, some very solid work done on the concepts of structure/superstructure. the superstructure (or more accurately the state) is what regulates and organizes the economic. as the economic becomes "larger", the forces of production are developed (more work done) and the relations of production are developed (more complicated division of labour leading to more complex organisation) the state develops to maintain the society. I can see how anti-oedipus develops this.
also of note is the ways in which non-capitalist societies prevent the accumulation of wealth through seperating wealth and status while encouraging productivity, which is done through having to buy status which cannot be used then to increase wealth. also the discussion of there being in some societies several different circuits of money or production to prevent inequality.
by doing away with a transhistorical rationality we escape hegelianism and reading capitalism into all of history.
marxism as an economic science, very good
some very interesting remarks in here, some very solid work done on the concepts of structure/superstructure. the superstructure (or more accurately the state) is what regulates and organizes the economic. as the economic becomes "larger", the forces of production are developed (more work done) and the relations of production are developed (more complicated division of labour leading to more complex organisation) the state develops to maintain the society. I can see how anti-oedipus develops this.
also of note is the ways in which non-capitalist societies prevent the accumulation of wealth through seperating wealth and status while encouraging productivity, which is done through having to buy status which cannot be used then to increase wealth. also the discussion of there being in some societies several different circuits of money or production to prevent inequality.
by doing away with a transhistorical rationality we escape hegelianism and reading capitalism into all of history.
marxism as an economic science, very good
August 8, 2025
The final essay (admittedly 70 pages) is magisterial but sadly most of the rest of this volume is a swamp of post-Althusserian Marxist discourse and rather plain and serviceable summaries of Marx's work. Certainly some insights along the way, but aside from the last section I don't think there's much to come back to here for me.
November 20, 2023
"What is rational for a mode of production is irrational to another one"
While this book is clearly directed to economists, Godelier's take on the anthropology of economy and its understanding on society is pretty witty.
My only problem with this book is how it is presented: clearly Godelier united a lot of his notes (or maybe articles / unfinished texts).
This amalgam of thoughts go from the rationality of the worker to how the bosses think for maximum productivity. Then it talks about exchange in primitive societies in contrast with modern ones. Hell, at the middle of the book Godelier turns to 'Das Kapital' and explains the dialectical method through multiples examples of the use vale and exchange value as well as surplus value.
There are insightful commentaries here and there, but overall, if you've already read Weber, Althusser and Marx, then skip it.
While this book is clearly directed to economists, Godelier's take on the anthropology of economy and its understanding on society is pretty witty.
My only problem with this book is how it is presented: clearly Godelier united a lot of his notes (or maybe articles / unfinished texts).
This amalgam of thoughts go from the rationality of the worker to how the bosses think for maximum productivity. Then it talks about exchange in primitive societies in contrast with modern ones. Hell, at the middle of the book Godelier turns to 'Das Kapital' and explains the dialectical method through multiples examples of the use vale and exchange value as well as surplus value.
There are insightful commentaries here and there, but overall, if you've already read Weber, Althusser and Marx, then skip it.
November 10, 2019
Another crafty tailor presenting his invisible clothes to the emperor.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews