Rationality and Rhetoric in Smith and Keynes

Abstract

First paragraph: The study of rhetoric in economics has blossomed in recent years under the leadership of McCloskey (1983, 1986, 1994). She has encouraged a consciousness of the language used to persuade, and of the difference between official and unofficial discourse. Thus, in their official discourse, economists use a particular formal language to express ideas. But, McCloskey argues, ideas are formed and conveyed through an unofficial discourse which is informal. This puts in a different light the difference which Blaug (1980; 1992) had identified between the methodology which economists profess and that which they practise. While Blaug chastises economists for not living up to their professed methodology, McCloskey notes the difference and encourages economists to explore their unofficial discourse.