Abstract
It is argued in this paper that the development of mathematics has had a profound effect upon the research paradigms of economics. Economists ’ early attempts to imitate the natural sciences have led them to an increasing quantification of their own science, with the consequence that recent developments in mathematics, such as the Theory of Chaos and the Theory of ('atastrophe, together with the implications from quantum physics, are causing a paradigm shift in economics. This paradigm shift has been turning away from a positivistic view of economic science towards a normative one a view where there seems to he greater acceptance of the principle that science cannot be free from value judgements. Tor the Christian economist these developments are to be welcomed. In the light of this, the paper concludes with a Scriptural perspective on the rote of mathematics in economics.
Highlights
It is argued in this paper that the development o f mathematics has had a profound effect upon the research paradigms o f economics
Die gevolg van Arrow en Debreu se deurbraak het uitgekring deur die ekono miese wetenskap, en in Debreu (1991:1) se woorde "economic theory entered a phase of intense mathematization that profoundly transformed the profession"
Die Oos tenrykse skool bring dus ’n algehele breuk in die verbinding tussen ekonomiese werklikheid en ekonomiese teorie teweeg
Summary
Die enigste fundamentele wet in die ekonomiese wetenskap is dat daar vir elke uitgawe ’n inkomste moet bestaan (Pyatt, 1988). As gevolg van die ingewikkeldheid van Walras se probleem moes ekonome soos Arrow en Debreu (1954) van gevorderde wiskundige tegnieke gebruik maak om die bestaan van 'n ewewigsprysvektor te bewys (wiskundige tegnieke soos onder andere Brouwer se vastepuntstelling en veralgemenings daarvan deur Kakutani (1941) is gebruik). Walras en sy navolgers het geglo dat, net soos in die natuurwetenskappe, daar absolute waarhede in die ekonomie bestaan wat net deur die mens ontdek moes word. Die bespreking sal soos volg verloop: in die volgende afdeling word die vemaamste paradigmas in die ekonomie se wetenskap uiteengesit, in afdeling 3 word onlangse ontwikkelinge in die wis kunde bespreek, en word die invloed daarvan op die paradigmas in die ekono miese wetenskap geidentifiseer, en in afdeling 4 word enkele Skriftuurlike fasette van die kwantifisering van die ekonomiese wetenskap belig.
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