Symposium on Wagner’s Mind, Society, and Human Action

Studies in Emergent Order is proud to publish a symposium on Professor Richard Wagner’s Mind, Society, and Human Action: Time and Knowledge in a Theory of Social Economy. Dr. Wagner’s book explains how economics originated as a branch of the humane studies that was concerned with trying to understand how some societies flourish while others stagnate, and also how once-flourishing societies could come to stagnate. Over the major part of the 20th century, however, economists mostly turned away from these humane and societal concerns by importing mechanistic ideas from 19th century physics. Dr. Wagner seeks to show how that original humane and social focus can be renewed.

This symposium features scholarly commentary and analysis on Dr. Wagner’s book from a variety of noted scholars (including Bruce L. Benson, Peter Boettke, Paul Lewis, Roger Koppl, and Adam Martin), as well as Dr. Wagner’s response to the issues raised by the contributors. Studies in Emergent Order is pleased that this symposium serves as an important addition to the literature on the nature of economics as a social science.

Studies in Emergent Order (SIEO) is an open-access journal dedicated to fostering research, discussion and publication concerning the roles played by and implications of emergent order phenomena, particularly in society but not excluding other areas.”