Joe Agassi, Intellectual Irritant

Abstract

This tribute begins with a recollection of my friendship with Joe and Judith, which led to rewarding contacts with Charlie Sawyer, Cherie Hoyt, Jancis Long and Mark and Ieva Notturno. Intellectually, Joe encouraged me to cast caution to the winds and unpack the implications of Popper’s ideas on objective knowledge and non-justificationism without being distracted by the arguments about whether objective knowledge exists. He contributed directly to economics in partnership with Klappholz and indirectly through his pupil Larry Boland, who in turn mentored Stanley Wong. The story moves on to some little appreciated aspects and implications of Popper’s thoughts; the synergy between Popper and the Austrian school of economics; the role of the moral framework of society; his early engagement with the problem of paradigms (his criticism of conventionalism); his warning about the danger of Big Science; his influence on Gordon Tullock. There is a reminder of the treasure trove of material on the website of Joe’s friend and collaborator Ian Jarvie. In view of their close partnership, this is a tribute to Joe as well as to Ian. There is some criticism which Joe will see as the most enjoyable part of the paper. And last but not least, no tribute to Joe would be complete without a mention of his life partner and collaborator Judith.