History of Thought, Methodology and Pluralism

Abstract

First paragraph: A pluralist approach to teaching economics needs to deal with the particular challenge posed by mainstream economics. There is an asymmetry between mainstream economics and most other approaches to economics in that mainstream economics presents itself as the sole arbiter of what does and what does not count as economics. Rather than being pluralist (advocating a range of approaches), it has traditionally been monist (advocating only one general approach). Thus, while other approaches, being pluralist, pay attention to mainstream economics and take the time and trouble to explain their approaches in relation to the mainstream, the mainstream recognises no such need.