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Keynes and the Analysis of Rational Behaviour

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Keynes as Philosopher-Economist

Part of the book series: Keynes Seminars ((KESE))

Abstract

In a social context characterised by significant uncertainty how, if at all, is rational conduct possible? Economists concerned with this question often draw upon chapter 12 of Keynes’ General Theory. Unfortunately this chapter, while in any case not explicitly set out as an account of rationality per se,2 appears to be open to different interpretations on this issue (Carabelli, 1985, 1988; Coddington, 1982; Dow and Dow, 1985; Fitzgibbons, 1988; Hodgson, 1988; Lawson, 1985, 1989; Meeks, 1978; O’Donnell, 1989; Shackle, 1974; Skidelsky, 1983) — not least because Keynes appears there to provide various different claims, or contrasting points of emphasis, concerning matters central to questions of rational behaviour (see Lawson, 1989c).

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© 1991 Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited

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Lawson, T. (1991). Keynes and the Analysis of Rational Behaviour. In: O’Donnell, R.M. (eds) Keynes as Philosopher-Economist. Keynes Seminars. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-10325-6_17

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