Enlightenment Evening: Critical remarks on the Scientific Method of Economics

​Can you do economics like an empirical science? What do we really know about human behaviour? How does epistemology impact theory and public policy?

​Economists have been asking themselves these questions since the 19th century. Auguste Comte’s positivism inspired economists to try and find concrete patterns of human choice and behaviour by emulating the methods of the physical sciences. However, later economists—notably Friedrich von Hayek—rejected positivism outright, calling it ‘the fatal conceit’ and an 'intellectual somersault' (Hayek 1952). Hayek’s teacher, Ludwig von Mises, even rationalised economics as an a priori science of human action. Agree? Disagree? Nonetheless interested? Then come and discuss how we actually gain knowledge from economics.

​Dr. Thorsten Polleit is Honorary Professor of Economics at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. He worked as an economist for more than 15 years in the international investment banking industry. From 2012 to 2023 he was chief economist and board member of Europe’s largest precious metal trading house. Thorsten is Adjunct Scholar of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn, US Alabama, and founder and President of the Ludwig von Mises Institut Deutschland, Germany.

​Doors open at 6pm for a sharp 6.30pm start. There will be a 15-minute address by Dr. Polleit followed by 10–15 minutes of audience Q&A.

​​Housekeeping:
Date: Thursday, 30th January 2025
Time: 6:00-8:00pm (no earlier - come rain or shine!)
Where: 23 Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3DJ

​​Refreshments provided 🍷