The Search for Paradigms as a Hindrance to Understanding

1970/04/01 by Albert O. Hirschman · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · #Philosophy and History of Science

paper · doi:10.2307/2009600

openalex publication_date 1970/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

In a recent issue of this journal, Oran Young argued forcefully against the ‘collection of empirical materials as an end in itself and without sufficient theoretical analysis to determine appropriate criteria of selection.” The present paper issues a complementary critique of the opposite failing. Its target is the tendency toward compulsive and mindless theorizing—a disease at least as prevalent and debilitating, so it seems to me, as the one described by Oran Young.

Citations

• The Political Economy of Import-Substituting Industrialization in Latin America

Discussions

• A very nice essay. It reminds me of a great paper I read many years ago: A.O. Hirschman's "The Search for Paradigms as a Hindrance to Understanding," which he presents as a critique of "compulsive and [bsky, 1 points, 1 comments]

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