Edgeworth's mathematization of social well-being

Adrian K. YEE

doi:10.1016/j.shpsa.2023.11.003

Edgeworth's mathematization of social well-being

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

Abstract

Francis Ysidro Edgeworth's unduly neglected monograph New and Old Methods of Ethics (1877) advances a highly sophisticated and mathematized account of social well-being in the utilitarian tradition of his 19th-century contemporaries. This article illustrates how his usage of the ‘calculus of variations’ was combined with findings from empirical psychology and economic theory to construct a consequentialist axiological framework. A conclusion is drawn that Edgeworth is a methodological predecessor to several important methods, ideas, and issues that continue to be discussed in contemporary social well-being studies.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	5-15
Number of pages	11
Journal	Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Volume	103
Early online date	16 Nov 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2023.11.003
Publication status	Published - Feb 2024

Bibliographical note

I acknowledge the following for constructive feedback on previous drafts: Craig Fraser, Christopher Green, Jamie Mikkelsen, Jin Hao Xie, Steven Zheng, three anonymous referees, audiences at the Mathematical and Numerical Inspirations in Philosophy conference held at Stanford University (April 1, 2020), and audiences at the 2nd ASU Winter Institute for the History of Economic Thought (January 22-23, 2021).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Calculus of variations
Edgeworth
History of economic thought
Philosophy of science
Psychology
Social well-being

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10.1016/j.shpsa.2023.11.003

https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0039368123001590

Cite this

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abstract = "Francis Ysidro Edgeworth's unduly neglected monograph New and Old Methods of Ethics (1877) advances a highly sophisticated and mathematized account of social well-being in the utilitarian tradition of his 19th-century contemporaries. This article illustrates how his usage of the {\textquoteleft}calculus of variations{\textquoteright} was combined with findings from empirical psychology and economic theory to construct a consequentialist axiological framework. A conclusion is drawn that Edgeworth is a methodological predecessor to several important methods, ideas, and issues that continue to be discussed in contemporary social well-being studies.",

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AB - Francis Ysidro Edgeworth's unduly neglected monograph New and Old Methods of Ethics (1877) advances a highly sophisticated and mathematized account of social well-being in the utilitarian tradition of his 19th-century contemporaries. This article illustrates how his usage of the ‘calculus of variations’ was combined with findings from empirical psychology and economic theory to construct a consequentialist axiological framework. A conclusion is drawn that Edgeworth is a methodological predecessor to several important methods, ideas, and issues that continue to be discussed in contemporary social well-being studies.

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KW - History of economic thought

KW - Philosophy of science

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Edgeworth's mathematization of social well-being

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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