Introduction: From Autism to Recognition

Abstract

The introduction presents the outlines of the contemporary debate in economics and the relevance of bringing up Rosmini’s economic philosophy to illuminate this debate. In the first place, the main assumptions and current critiques of the neoclassical paradigm in economics are presented. In the second place, the analysis about contemporary economics is put under the light of the crisis of modernity and the shift from the modern rationalist-utilitarian paradigm to a new, although still uncertain, model. Thirdly, a series of philosophical works by authors – inspired mainly by Hegel – who interpret the said shift as a transition from what they call the ‘Machiavellian and Hobbesian’ paradigm of ‘self-conservation’ to a new ‘recognition’ paradigm are also presented. In the fourth place, the possible flaws of Hegelian arguments in order to ground a paradigm of recognition in economics are shown. Finally, some arguments are introduced to show how Rosmini’s conception of recognition based on a personalist idea of the human being can be a far better philosophical foundation for economics than the one held by authors inspired by Hegel.