Human Action as an Ultimate Given : Ludwig Von Mises' Praxeology as Seen from a Business Ethics Angle

• Autorzy: Wojciech Gasparski
• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973) was one of the two parallel followers of the Espinas', a French scholar, human action theory; the other was Tadeusz Kotarbiński (1886-1981). The former was the founder of the Austrian praxeology considered as the aprioristic logic of action, and the latter originated the Polish praxiology considered as general methodology, i.e. epistemology of practice or grammar of action. This paper is intended to characterize the Mises' approach, closely related to his experience; therefore a number of important facts from the life of the Austrian praxeologist, economist and economics philosopher is summarized in the first part of the essay. According to Mises praxeological laws apply to the regularity of phenomena due to the correlations between means and ends which restricts people's freedom of choice and action. Other restrictions of action have their source in physical laws, to which humans must adjust their behavior if they want to live, and physiological laws, i.e. a set of constitutive qualities characteristic of each individual, defining that individual's disposition and susceptibility to environmental. Mises presented his theory in the book Human Action: A Treatise on Economics, over nine hundred pages long opus magnum that comprises forty chapters. The present essay is concentrated on praxeology and its relation to economics with special emphasis on the ethical dimension presented in contemporary literature. For praxeology is a part of practical philosophy, or ethics in the broad sense, it is therefore proper to discuss the issue in the ethical context, especially the business ethics angle is relevant for the Misesian praxeology, and 'its hitherto best-developed branch - economics'. Economic knowledge, based on praxeology - says Mises - being an essential element in the structure of human civilization; is 'the foundation upon which modern industrialism and all the moral, intellectual, technological, and therapeutical achievements of the last centuries have been built.(original abstract)

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Philosophical thought; Praxeology; Philosophy of economics

PL

Poglądy filozoficzne; Prakseologia; Filozofia ekonomii

• Czasopismo: Studia Humana
• Rocznik: 2013
• Tom: 2(1)
• Strony: 3--14

Twórcy

autor

Wojciech Gasparski

• Business Ethics Centre; Kozminski University in Warsaw, Poland

Bibliografia

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