Elements of the reception of Aristotelian thought in 19th century German-language philosophy and economics
Abstract
It matters to philosophers and economists to display evidence how Aristotle was read in nineteenth century German-speaking Academia because the Ancient was a bone of contention and a source of inspiration for Idealism, Hegelianism, Historicism, the German Historical economists (to begin with Roscher) and their Viennese contender, the founder of the Austrian School of Economics, Carl Menger. Ancient philosophy remained vivid then. In evaluating its reception, we show how the debate on collective entities versus individuality found therein a basis, and methodological individualism a justification – something still useful in the twenty-first century in a crisis of the economic mainstream.