From Pleasure Machines to Moral Communities

An Evolutionary Economics without Homo Economicus

Hodgson Geoffrey M.

Are humans at their core seekers of their own pleasure or cooperative members of society? Paradoxically, they are both. Pleasure-seeking can take place only within the context of what works within a defined community, and central to any community are the evolved codes and principles guiding appropriate behavior, or morality. The complex interaction of morality and self-interest is at the heart of Geoffrey M. Hodgson's approach to evolutionary economics, which is designed to bring about a better understanding of human behavior.

In "From Pleasure Machines to Moral Communities", Hodgson casts a critical eye on neoclassical individualism, its foundations and flaws, and turns to recent insights from research on the evolutionary bases of human behavior. He focuses his attention on the evolution of morality, its meaning, why it came about, and how it influences human attitudes and behavior. This more nuanced understanding sets the stage for a fascinating investigation of its implications on a range of pressing issues drawn from diverse environments, including the business world and crucial policy realms like health care and ecology.

This book provides a valuable complement to Hodgson's earlier work with Thorbjorn Knudsen on evolutionary economics in "Darwin's Conjecture", extending the evolutionary outlook to include moral and policy-related issues.

Content

Preface
Acknowledgments
Principles
1. Introduction: Economic Man and Beyond
2. Meanings of Methodological Individualism
3. Rationality and Cooperation
4. The Nature of Morality
5. The Evolution of Morality. Applications
6. Morality and Cooperation in Business
7. The Economics of Corruption and the Corruption of Economics
8. Human Needs and Moral Motivations in Health Economics
9. From Utilitarianism to Evolution in Ecological Economics
10. Toward an Evolutionary and Institutional Approach to Policy
References
Index

About the Author

Geoffrey M. Hodgson is research professor at Hertfordshire Business School, University of Hertfordshire, England, and the author or co-author of over a dozen books.

Reviews

"In his bold and thought-provoking new book, Geoffrey M. Hodgson exposes the deficiencies in 'methodological individualism' and shows how the neoclassical model of human nature is a crude caricature when it comes to dealing with the emergent dynamics of collective phenomena. In doing so, he provides much-needed clarification to our often muddy economic debate" – Peter Corning, Institute for the Study of Complex Systems and author of "Holistic Darwinism" and "The Fair Society"

"Modern mainline economics has shown itself to be woefully inept at illuminating the workings of modern economies. Among the economists who are trying to help the discipline to reform, Geoffrey M. Hodgson stands out as one of the most creative and sensible" – Richard Nelson, Columbia University

"An outstanding product of impressive scholarship that makes the reader painfully aware of how much we lost when economics became orthodox. It is hard to say what one must admire more: the author's profound familiarity with economic theory – both traditional and modern – or his original application of evolutionary reasoning to economic and social life, without falling into the trap of biologistic reductionism" – Wolfgang Streeck, Max Plank Institute for the Study of Societies

"Geoffrey M. Hodgson presents in this thought-provoking book a view of human sociality and moral concerns that is deeply rooted in an evolutionary worldview – and demonstrates the relevance of his vision. Highlighting morality issues in business enterprises, health services, the environmental crisis and, not least, corruption as a scourge of human sociality, he offers deep new insights" – Ulrich Witt, Max Plank Institute of Economics

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