From the individual to the collective level, is there an insurmountable step ? The categories of “individual” and “collective” can be useful to shed light on the objects of study in economic methodology and the history of economic thought. Whether it is for policy-design or for scientific claims, can one start from the individual level to deduce policies or scientific claims at the collective level ? Can we explain macro-level phenomena simply by looking at their micro-foundations ? The aim of this workshop will be to analyze how these relations shape economics as a scientific field. We, thus, encourage proposals that aim to interrogate the individual among the collective – as in the micro-foundation of macroeconomics models for instance – and vice versa the collective among the individual – as in the performativity of economic theories to the individual for instance. The aim of this workshop is to bring together young researchers to question the lenses by which one can analyze economics, philosophy of economics and history of economic thought.

Context

The workshop will be held on May 28th 2024, the day preceding the 7th International Conference “Economic Philosophy” - Market(s) and Democracy, Thursday 29th May - Friday 31st in Reims, France. Every participant will present their paper / draft which will be discussed by every other participant throughout the day. To help us in our reflection, we will have the pleasure to welcome Prof. Johanna Thoma, Chair of Ethics at the University of Bayreuth. 

Arguments

Some scholars tend to caricature economics as “Robinson Crusoe economics”. From the individual to the collective level, is there an insurmountable step? The categories of “individual” and “collective” can be useful to shed light on the objects of study in economic methodology and the history of economic thought. Whether it is for policy-design or for scientific claims, can one start from the individual level to deduce policies or scientific claims at the collective level? Can we explain macro-level phenomena simply by looking at their micro-foundations? These questions shape the theoretical debates in economic methodology (methodological individualism or holism), but more broadly in philosophy of economics and welfare economics. The symmetry or asymmetry between the individual and the collective levels also frame ethical discussions, as it shapes, for instance, individual or collective responsibility in regards to societal issues.

As both levels –the individual and the collective– are interrelated, the aim of this workshop will be to analyze how these relations shape economics as a scientific field. We, thus, encourage proposals that aim to interrogate the individual among the collective – as in the micro-foundation of macroeconomics models for instance – and vice versa the collective among the individual – as in the performativity of economic theories to the individual for instance. The aim of this workshop is to bring together young researchers to question the lenses by which one can analyze economics, philosophy of economics and history of economic thought.

To help us in our reflection, we will have the pleasure to welcome Prof. Johanna Thoma, Chair of Ethics at the University of Bayreuth.

We invite all young researchers who might be interested in presenting a contribution or simply taking part in the discussions to apply. For those willing to present, we request them to submit an abstract of one page (max, without bibliography); for those willing to attend without presenting, a brief motivation will be sufficient. All works dealing with one of these levels or questionings are welcome, whether they come from theory or practice, philosophy, sociology or the history of science: epistemological works, contemporary case studies, historical case studies, reflections on the transfer of models or concepts, etc.

We encourage young scholars (widely defined) researching in economics, philosophy, sociology, history of economic thought or any related discipline to apply to this workshop, either as a speaker or as a simple participant.

Submission guidelines

Apply by filling out the form on the webpage of the workshop

before February 29^th

The language of the workshop will be English.

Successful candidates will be notified by late March.

For further information and inquiries, please contact us: ysiworkshop.reims2024@gmail.com

Some travel and accommodation stipends are available.

Organizing committee

• Florent His, Université Paris 1
• Mathieu Guigourez, Université Paris 1
• María Gutiérrez, Université de Lausanne
• Camila Orozco Espinel, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne
• Daniel Zarama Rojas, Université de Lorraine