The gap between formalism and empirical science: the example of the non-dictatorship condition

Robert Alexander

doi:10.58567/eal02040005

Back

The gap between formalism and empirical science: the example of the non-dictatorship condition

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The gap between formalism and empirical science: the example of the non-dictatorship condition

Robert Alexander

Economic Analysis Letters, Vol.2(4), pp.28-32

2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58567/eal02040005

Files and links (2)

pdf

The gap between formalism and empirical science the example of the non-dictatorship condition290.05 kBDownload View

Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.58567/eal02040005View

Published Version

Abstract

Formalist theory

empirical science

mathematization of economics

impossibility theorem

social welfare function

Since the establishment of neoclassical economics in the nineteenth century, there has been a debate in the economics profession over the role played by mathematics. Mathematics can add precision to discussion of real-world empirical problems in economics, but care needs to be taken when formalizing a problem to ensure that errors of translation are not made. Formalism allows one to be sure that a chain of reasoning is correct but applying conclusions back to an empirical science problem is fraught if an error of translation has been made. We illustrate such a difficulty in the context of Arrow’s impossibility theorem, specifically the mistranslation of the non-dictatorship condition. The notion of dictatorship entails causality, but causality does not correspond to the usage of the implication sign in mathematics or logic. We use the rules of logic to illustrate that the way that dictatorship is rendered mathematically in the impossibility theorem makes the existence of a dictator (or dictators) not only reasonable but likely.

Details

Title: The gap between formalism and empirical science: the example of the non-dictatorship condition
Authors: Robert Alexander (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Business and Creative Industries
Publication details: Economic Analysis Letters, Vol.2(4), pp.28-32
Publisher: Anser Press Pte.Ltd.
Date published: 2023
DOI: 10.58567/eal02040005
ISSN: 2972-3272
Copyright note: This is an open-access article distributed under a CC BY license (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License)
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99745698902621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

5 File views/ downloads

113 Record Views