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The Economic

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Philosophy of the Economy

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Philosophy ((BRIEFSPHILOSOPH))

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Abstract

This chapter discusses the deep meaning of economic matters, or “the economy”, from a philosophical standpoint, exploring (1) a metaphoric or improper meaning: human beings are “economic” insofar as they have needs that they can satisfy using material means; (2) a proper, broad meaning: all decisions and actions geared to the acquisition and use of the goods that satisfy human needs are economic; (3) a proper, precise meaning: the maximizing character of the use of means in order to achieve ends with those decisions and actions is specifically economic. Some other characteristics of “the economic” are pointed out: its free, uncertain, and temporal nature; its subjective character, and its social immersion.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    On analogy, see for example Ralph M. McInerny (1961).

  2. 2.

    The expression ‘focal meaning’ was coined by G. E. L. Owen (1960).

  3. 3.

    I use the term “anthropological” in its philosophical sense, not referring to cultural anthropology.

  4. 4.

    I have dealt with the nature of “the economic” from the Aristotelian perspective in other works (see Crespo 2006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Mendoza, Argentina

    Ricardo F. Crespo

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Crespo, R.F. (2013). The Economic. In: Philosophy of the Economy. SpringerBriefs in Philosophy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02648-0_2

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