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Friedrich A. Hayek:The Hayekian Prism (voir la source)
Version du 11 janvier 2009 à 10:47
, 11 janvier 2009 à 10:47aucun résumé de modification
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From this passage Caldwell draws a radical conclusion: "Even 'pure observation' is always observation from a point of view; there is no such thing as 'facts in themselves'. In modern terminology, what we take to be the facts are themselves 'theory laden' in that they reflect our own prior interests" (p. 82). | From this passage Caldwell draws a radical conclusion: "Even 'pure observation' is always observation from a point of view; there is no such thing as 'facts in themselves'. In modern terminology, what we take to be the facts are themselves 'theory laden' in that they reflect our own prior interests" (p. 82). | ||
This goes altogether too far. Weber says that we select facts that interest us to study. But it does not follow from this that, once one has selected some object of study, the properties of the facts disclosed to us exist only because of the theory that we hold. If someone investigates the claim "all ravens are black," he presumably does so because of his interest in this hypothesis. Nevertheless, the data on black ravens seem entirely neutral: a raven is either black or it isn't, regardless of what theory an investigator may hold. The claim that facts are "theory laden," much promoted by Thomas Kuhn, Norwood Russell Hanson, et hoc genus omne, dissolves scientific investigation into a mere subjective clash of perspectives. | This goes altogether too far. Weber says that we select facts that interest us to study. But it does not follow from this that, once one has selected some object of study, the properties of the facts disclosed to us exist only because of the theory that we hold. If someone investigates the claim "all ravens are black," he presumably does so because of his interest in this hypothesis. Nevertheless, the data on black ravens seem entirely neutral: a raven is either black or it isn't, regardless of what theory an investigator may hold. The claim that facts are "theory laden," much promoted by Thomas Kuhn, Norwood Russell Hanson, et hoc genus omne, dissolves scientific investigation into a mere subjective clash of perspectives{{ref|2}}. The point is so important that it bears repetition. If you select the facts you study according to your interests, it does not follow that your interests construct the facts, to any degree whatever. | ||
When Caldwell turns to the work of Hayek himself, he continues the pattern so far suggested: he selects an important topic, has much of value to say about it, but fails to get matters quite right. | When Caldwell turns to the work of Hayek himself, he continues the pattern so far suggested: he selects an important topic, has much of value to say about it, but fails to get matters quite right. | ||
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== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
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# {{note|1}}Caldwell’s decision to ignore Hayek’s work on capital theory leads him to ignore at least one instance of material relevant to the topics he covers. In ''The Pure Theory of Capital'', Hayek has a most valuable discussion of how misleading terms can impede economic analysis.</small> | # {{note|1}}Caldwell’s decision to ignore Hayek’s work on capital theory leads him to ignore at least one instance of material relevant to the topics he covers. In ''The Pure Theory of Capital'', Hayek has a most valuable discussion of how misleading terms can impede economic analysis. | ||
# {{note|2}}A supporter of the theory-ladenness of facts can escape subjectivism if he confines theory to the a priori. Mises took this way out in economics. | |||
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{{Friedrich A. Hayek}} | {{Friedrich A. Hayek}} | ||
[[wl:Hayek]] | [[wl:Hayek]] | ||