The Theory of Ethical Economy in the Historical School: Wilhelm Roscher, Lorenz von Stein, Gustav Schmoller, Wilhelm Dilthey and Contemporary Theory

The present volume seeks to inaugurate a new discussion of two schools of historical thought by social scientists, economists, and phi­ losophers in the English language. The tradition of the "Historical and Ethical School of Economics" established by Friedrich List, Wilhelm Roscher, and Gustav Schmollerand the tradition of historism in the hu­ manities represented by Wilhelm Dilthey are examined not so much for their own historical interest as for their potential systematic contribu­ tion to the contemporary debates on business ethics, economics, sociol­ ogy, and philosophy. The book contains the proceedings of the 1994 SEEP-Conference on Economics and Ethics held under the title "Economics and Ethics in the Historical School of Economics. Achievements and Present Relevance. Part A: The Older Historical School, Schmoller, Dilthey, and Others" with the financial support of the Fritz Thyssen Stiftung, Cologne, at Kloster Marlenrode near Hitdesheim and Hannover, Gennany, on March 23rd to 27th, 1994. The SEEP-Conferences on Economics and Ethics are organised an­ nually by the editor and the editorial board of Studies in Economic Ethics and Philosophy (SEEP). The 1994 SEEP-Conference was the frrst of two conferences on the Historical School and will be followed by a conference in 1996 on the topic "Economics and Ethics in the His­ torical School of Economics. Achievements and Present Relevance. Part B: Heinrich Rickert, Max Weber, Werner Sombart, and Others", concen­ trating on the discussion in the 20th century.