Dostoevsky's Approach to Economics and Critique of the Economic Man

Abstract

Considering the fact that economic thought today is pervaded by the neoclassical mainstream which is oblivious to views from outside of its purview, blending a range of neighboring social science disciplines becomes much more essential to develop new insights into economic thought. In our sense, literature, too, proves to be very much helpful towards that aim. In this respect, if homo economicus and orthodox economics are criticized by an assortment of alternative economic approaches, Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground, we believe, makes a telling contribution to critical political economy approach to these issues. In the paper, outlining the place of homo economicus in mainstream economics and social and political thought, in light of Dostoyevsky’s critique of homo economicus by way of The Underground Man, we will be in search of exploring the character and aspects of a down-to-earth human type for economic thinking.