The "Vanity of the Philosopher": From Equality to Hierarchy in Post-Classical Economics

by David M. Levy, David M. Levy

The "Vanity of the Philosopher" continues the themes introduced in Levy's acclaimed book How the Dismal Science Got Its Name.Here, Peart and Levy tackle the issues of racism, eugenics, hierarchy, and egalitarianism in classical economics and take a broad view of classical economics' doctrine of human equality. Responding to perennial accusations from the left and the right that the market economy has created either inequality or too much equality, the authors trace the role of the eugenics movement in pulling economics away from the classical economist's respect for the individual toward a more racist view at the turn of the century.The "Vanity of the Philosopher" reveals the consequences of hierarchy in social science. It shows how the "vanity of the philosopher" has led to recommendations that range from the more benign but still objectionable "looking after" paternalism, to overriding preferences, and, in the extreme, to eliminating purportedly bad preferences. The authors suggest that an approach that abstracts from difference and presumes equal competence is morally compelling."People in the know on intellectual history and economics await the next book from Peart and Levy with much the same enthusiasm that greets a new Harry Potter book in the wider world. This book delivers the anticipated delights big time!"-William Easterly, Professor of Economics and Africana Studies, NYU, and non-resident Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development"In their customary idiosyncratic manner, Sandra Peart and David Levy reexamine the way in which the views of classical economists on equality and hierarchy were shifted by contact with scholars in other disciplines, and the impact this had on attitudes towards race, immigration, and eugenics. This is an imaginative and solid work of scholarship, with an important historical message and useful lessons for scholars today."-Stanley Engerman, John Munro Professor of Economics and Professor of History, University of RochesterSandra J. Peart, Professor of Economics at Baldwin-Wallace College, has published articles on utilitarianism, the methodology of J. S. Mill, and the transition to neoclassicism. This is her fourth book. David M. Levy is Professor of Economics at George Mason University and Director of the Center for Study of Public Choice. This is his third book.

344 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2005

Reviews

[Simon Cook · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was probably this book that tipped the scales and made me leave academia. Disguised as a scholarly expose of the racism inherent to 19th century left-leaning political economy and a celebration of the egalitarian individualism of classical economics, this book is simply a projection of modern American political debates on to a very badly drawn the landscape of 19th century England. I say 'very badly drawn' because the historical knowledge of 19th century England betrayed by our two authors is minimal. They basically do not know what they are talking about.

None of this warrants the sheer despair induced in me by this book. Bad academic books are, after all, pretty common. The straw that broke the camels back, however, was the fly leaf comments - the nuggets of praise by well-known names in the field. And there has been quite a lot of praise for this fairly well-received book.

And every single drop of praise speaks volumes as to the crass historical ignorance of the reviewer and makes a mockery of the title - which all these people proudly bear - of historian of economics.

Yuk!

[Moll · Rating 3 out of 5]

FYS: The Secret History of the Dismal Science

[Leigh]

Pretty interesting