History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Has history been tampered with?
  • Calculations are only as good as your numbers
  • Pants on fire?
  • Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
  • Very Interesting
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ChineseChinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
IrishIrish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
JapaneseJapanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
WomenWomen | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Augustine, SaintAugustine, Saint | ( A ) | People, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Doctors & MedicineDoctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Lawyers & CriminalsLawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Love, Sex & MarriageLove, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Assyria, Babylonia & SumerAssyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
Early CivilizationEarly Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
HistoriographyHistoriography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | World | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Asian American | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Asian AmericanAsian American | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
FrenchFrench | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
VictorianVictorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
EpicEpic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
GermanGerman | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
RussianRussian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
SpanishSpanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ChineseChinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Conspiracy TheoriesConspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
War on DrugsWar on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
English (All)English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ArabicArabic | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ArmenianArmenian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
CzechCzech | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
GreekGreek | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
HungarianHungarian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
JapaneseJapanese | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
KoreanKorean | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
NorwegianNorwegian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
Persian & FarsiPersian & Farsi | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
PolishPolish | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
PortuguesePortuguese | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
RomanianRomanian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
RussianRussian | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
SwedishSwedish | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
TurkishTurkish | Foreign Language | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
ScienceScience | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books
Online ResearchOnline Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books
Native AmericanNative American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
History of ScienceHistory of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books
Magic & WizardsMagic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Sailor MoonSailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
PilatesPilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
HistoryHistory | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology) History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
  2. History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
  3. Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
  4. Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
  5. They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Has history been tampered with?.......2007-10-23

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RAZQNMXM4M9CL Has history been tampered with? Yes, it has! Did events and eras such as the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Roman Empire , the Dark Ages, and the Renaissance, actually occur within a very different chronology from what we've been told? Yes, they certainly did!

The history of humankind is both drastically shorter and dramatically different than generally presumed.

Why is it so? On one hand, it was usual custom to justify the claims to title and land by age and ancestry, and on the other the court historians knew only too well how to please their masters. The so called universal classic world history is a pack of intricate lies for all events prior to the 16th century. World history as we learn it today was entirely fabricated in the 16th-18th centuries. It's likely that nobody told you before, but

there is not a single piece of firm written evidence or artefact that is reliably and independently dated prior to the 11th century.

Naturally, after what you've learned in school and university, you will not easily believe that the classical history of ancient Rome, Greece, Asia, Egypt, China, Japan, India, etc., is manifestly false.

You will point accusing finger to the pyramids in Egypt, to the Coliseum in Rome and Great Wall of China etc., and claim, aren't they really ancient, thousands of years ancient? Well, there is no valid scientific proof that they are older than 1000 years!

The oldest original written document that can be reliably dated belongs to the 11th century!

New research asserts that Homo sapiens invented writing (including hieroglyphics) only 1000 years ago. Once invented, writing skills were immediately and irreversibly put to the use of ruling powers and science.

The consensual chronology we live with was essentially crafted in the 16th century by the Jesuits.

The world history was compiled from contradictory mix of innumerable copies of ancient Latin and Greek manuscripts and other irrefutable proofs delivered by late mediaeval astronomers that were cemented by the authority of writings of the Church Fathers.

Early in life, we learn about ancient history. Children love the magical lessons of history - they are like fairy tales. Teachers recite breathtaking stories; very soon We learn by heart the names and deeds of brave warriors, wise philosophers, fabulous pharaohs, cunning high priests and greedy scribes.

We learn of gigantic pyramids and sinister castles, kings and queens, dukes and barons, powerful heroes and beautiful ladies, emaciated saints and low-life traitors.

Ancient history is based documents, manuscripts, printed books, paintings, monuments and artefacts - called primary sources.

The problem is that neither these ancient documents, nor events described therein can be irrefutably dated, moreover they contradict each other for the most part.

When a school textbook tells us that Genghis Khan in year X or Alexander in year Y, have each conquered half of the world, it means only that it is so said in some of the written sources.

There are no answers to simple questions:

When were these primary sources written?

Where and by whom were these sources found?

It is wrongly presumed that ancient and medieval chronicles, written by Genghis Khan's or Alexander the Great contemporaries and eyewitnesses, are readily available. Actually, only sources written hundreds or even thousands of years after the events are there, compiled mostly in the 16th 18th centuries, or even later.

As a rule, these sources suffered considerable multiple manipulations, falsifications and distortions by editing. At the same time,

innumerable originals of ancient documents under various pretexts were destroyed in Europe under various pretexts.

The names of persons and geographical sites often changed meaning and location during the course of the centuries.

Geographical locations became clearly defined on maps only with the advent of printing.

This made possible the circulation of identical copies of the same map for purposes of the military, navigation, education and governance tasks.

Historians from Oxford say: "hey, everybody knows that Julius Caesar lived in the first century B.C.

`Julius Caesar' statement is only a point of view as

there is simply no irrefutable documentary proof that Julius Caesar or any other great name of antiquity ever existed.

Better than that - extremely rare sources that can be reliably dated back to the 10th-14th centuries A D, do not show the polished picture of classical history.

They show a picture both contradictory and confusing.

All methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts are erroneous:

Radio-carbon C14 method produces dating with exactitude of plus minus 1500 years, therefore it is too crude for dating of events in historical timeframe!

The Almagest tractate, which lies as corner stone contemporary chronology, compiled in the 2nd century A D by Ptolemy, the founding father of astronomy, contains astronomical data of 9th to 16th century!

The Bronze Age,that has supposedly began 5000 years ago. Bronze is made of 90% copper and 10% tin, but the technology for tin extraction dates back to 14th century A D!.

All eclipses contained in manuscripts, like Thucydides one, relating 'ancient' events have exclusively medieval dating. All horoscopes cut in stone or painted in Egyptian temples, like Dendera have exclusively early medieval dating solutions.

Not quite what you have learned in school? Open your eyes, and, you will find sufficient proof to reach step by step the inevitable conclusion that the classical chronology is false and therefore, that the history of ancient and medieval world universally accepted today, is also false. Have a fresh outlook on everything said or printed about "ancient" and "enigmatic" Roman, Greek and Egyptian, medieval as well as all other "lost and found" civilizations.

Antiquity and Dark Ages are phantoms invented in the 16th 18th and polished in 19th 20thcenturies. Human civilization is in fact barely 1000 years old!

This book will change your perception of History forever!
What if Ancient Rome, Greece and Egypt were invented during Renaissance?
What if The Old Testament was a rendition of events of the Middle Ages?
What if Jesus Christ was born in 1053 and crucified in 1086 AD?
Sounds Unbelievable?
Not after you've read "History: Fiction or Science?" by Anatoly Fomenko, the genius mathematician.
Armed with astronomy and computers Anatoly Fomenko turns History into a rocket science.

3 out of 5 stars Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

5 out of 5 stars Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

5 out of 5 stars Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

5 out of 5 stars Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
Austrian Economics in America: The Migration of a Tradition (Historical Perspectives on Modern Economics)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Helping to Better Understand the World as We Know It
  • Past Events, Current Trends
Austrian Economics in America: The Migration of a Tradition (Historical Perspectives on Modern Economics)
Karen I. Vaughn
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Economic HistoryEconomic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
InternationalInternational | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
TheoryTheory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ManagementManagement | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
AustriaAustria | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Finance | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books
History & TheoryHistory & Theory | Economics | Business & Finance | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books
GeneralGeneral | Economics | Business & Finance | New & Used Textbooks | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0521445523

Book Description

This book examines the development of the ideas of the new Austrian school from its beginnings in Vienna in the 1870s to the present. It focuses primarily on showing how the coherent theme that emerges from the thought of Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, Ludwig Lachmann, Israel Kirzner and a variety of new younger Austrians is an examination of the implications of time and ignorance (or processes and knowledge) for economic theory.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Helping to Better Understand the World as We Know It.......2004-08-08

My introduction to the Austrian School of Economics came with a chance encounter of a publication from the Institute of Economic Affairs of London. This one monograph helped me to discover more of their particular publications and other similar books and pamphlets at the Laissez Faire Bookshop where one could often overhear at the very least some strenuous debates about economics and politics etc. My real academic introduction came with a paper by Peter Wynarczyck presented at a Newcastle upon Tyne Polytechnic Conference which drew together some of the historic strands of the school and some of the controversial ideas which it had generated.

I came back to Karen Vaughn's book while preparing another review for Amazon although in a slightly different field and, from the point of view of an educated layman, I have to say that I find this particular volume to be an excellent and succint piece of work but which perhaps at the time of writing requires a new edition.

I do not claim to be au fait with all of the various controversies within the Austrian School but I understand that there are some dogmatic fissures between certain groups some of whom claim that there's alone is the one true faith and who resist criticism especially from outside the academic arena.

My purpose in this brief review is to highlight what I believe is to be one of the best introductions to this particular field that I have read which is generally accessible to anyone with a reasonable grasp of economic and political ideas and who is at least a little sceptical of the current state of neoclassical economic theory. For readers who would like to sample the Austrian tradition without delving into a book of this size I would heartily recommend Stephen Littlechild's 'Fallacy of the Mixed Economy' even though it too is showing it's age.

Austrian Economics in America is a story of a set of ideas who's time has come. The pretentions of economics as science are seen every day while the failures are glossed over. I hasten to add that I am not engaged in a sweeping generalisation against all economics. I certainly believe that it has some usefulness but it appears to me that other than providing a means by which we may view the world there are some serious shortcomings to it's applicability.

Vaughn shows how a different perspective, originating with Carl Menger, can illuminate some of the shortcomings of the science of economics and offer a different and more richer view, but which too has it's attendant problems and issues. She sets out carefully and with the appropriate level of detail, the development of those ideas over a 120 year period and their gradual acceptance, albeit in a limited number of academic centres, in America primarily but increasingly across a post Communist world. She traces out the essential differences between some of the rival camps within the school and suggests links between them and even offers some suggestions to move forward. One of the things that I really like about this book is the openess with which she draws comparisons with other areas in economics which are looking into similar areas of study although from different perspectives and political or ideological viewpoints. In the onclusion particularly she quietly suggests that the implications for future developments in the Austrian tradition may be a lot more radical than the protaganists in the tradition expect.

Reading the book is a pleasant enough task because of the author's prose style but reader's beware of the radical notions which are introduced. As an historical document and summary it really has much to commend it. As a statement of somewhat revolutionary ideas it is a great introduction to some of the mostsignificant academic thinkers of our time who are held in great esteem. My only, very minor reservation is that the contributions of some other pioneers in this field are not included such as the sterling work of Arthur Seldon at the Institute of Economic Affairs in London and for the Atlas Foundation in brining these ideas to a wider and younger audience across the world, but that is a minor quibble.

It certainly works for me at least in helping the reader taker a broader look at economics and motivate one to delve deeper into the treasures of the Austrian tradition. I would urge anyone working for an undergraduate or graduate degree in Economics to broaden their horizons with theis very clear and succinct book.

4 out of 5 stars Past Events, Current Trends.......2000-09-08

The author of this book does an excellent job of explaining the development of Austrian economics in the US. Vaughn illustrates the importance of the Calculation and Capital debates, both in the development of the Austrian paradigm and in the decline of its reputation during the 1930's. Her views on Mises, Kirzner and Rothbard are bound to cause controversy, but she develops her critiques carefully. Vaughn explains Hayek's contributions clearly, and demonstrates the importance of his work on psychology and social theory to the Austrian paradigm. Vaughn also brings her readers up to date by discussing many of the most recent developments in Austrian economics. However, the most important contribution of this book is in her discussions of lesser-known Austrians. Vaughn gives Weiser the credit that he deserves for developing the concept of opportunity cost and for raising the issue of calculation under socialism. Vaughn also explores the ideas of one of the least understood and most mysterious figures in Austrian economics- Ludwig Lachmann. Vaughn's arguments against equilibrium theorizing and for process orientated paradigms are unlikely to bring about an immediate revolution in economic science, but her case is compelling.
Ludwig Von Mises: Fountainhead of the Modern Microeconomic Revolution
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent introduction to Von Mises.
Ludwig Von Mises: Fountainhead of the Modern Microeconomic Revolution
Eamonn Butler
Manufacturer: Gower Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
MicroeconomicsMicroeconomics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
TheoryTheory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Production & OperationsProduction & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
AustriaAustria | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0566057522

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to Von Mises........2005-02-03

Professor Butler's "Von Mises" is an excellent introduction to the works and thought of Ludwig Von Mises. I am familiar with many of Von Mises' works, and was very impressed with the way that Professor Butler was able to capture the essence of Von Mises' thought in such a clear and concise manner. I strongly recommend "Von Mises" to anyone seeking an introduction to Ludwig Von Mises, or to anyone already familiar with him who is interested in a brief summary of his works and thought.
Ludwig Von Mises: The Man and His Economics (Library of Modern Thinkers)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Solid But Not Spectacular
  • Economic Man
  • Excellent
  • Mises Expounded and Defended
Ludwig Von Mises: The Man and His Economics (Library of Modern Thinkers)
Israel Kirzner
Manufacturer: ISI Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
BusinessBusiness | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
PhilosophersPhilosophers | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Austrian Theory of the Trade Cycle and Other Essays The Austrian Theory of the Trade Cycle and Other Essays
  2. The Theory of Money and Credit The Theory of Money and Credit
  3. Wilhelm Ropke: Swiss Localist, Global Economist (Library of Modern Thinkers) Wilhelm Ropke: Swiss Localist, Global Economist (Library of Modern Thinkers)
  4. Hayek's Challenge: An Intellectual Biography of F.A. Hayek Hayek's Challenge: An Intellectual Biography of F.A. Hayek
  5. Robert Nisbet: Communication Traditionalist (Library of Modern Thinkers) Robert Nisbet: Communication Traditionalist (Library of Modern Thinkers)

ASIN: 1882926617

Book Description

The work of Ludwig von Mises exercised enormous influence upon the thought of libertarians, classical liberals, anticommunists, and even traditionalist conservatives during the postwar years. But, as Israel Kirzner shows in the second installment in our Library of Modern Thinkers series, Mises' dedication was always first and foremost to discovering truths—and destroying falsehoods—within the science of economics. In this thorough yet concise introduction to Mises' life, economics, and influence, Kirzner (a former student of Mises and an influential free-market economist himself) traces the key elements of Mises' life, explains his core contributions to economic theory, and assesses his impact on twentieth-century economics and political thought.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Solid But Not Spectacular.......2002-10-13

This is a good overview of Mises, his life and background and his economics. It is workmanlike, basic and easy to read. It is not spectacular but it is very solid.

I did enjoy reading it, however. The first two chapters give alot of background information on von Mises's life and work and I found that interesting because it is always nice to know a bit about an author as a person rather than just his work. And the bottom line about von Mises is that he was a couragous, honest and brilliant man and the proof is in the tremendous admiration earned by worthy friends and supporters.

The Third chapter takes up von Mises's ideas on methodology, his a priorism and his commitment to value free economics. The two page section "The Intellectually Revolutionary Character of Economics" is really good. Section 5 of the chapter, "Mises' Methodological Defense" didn't really help me understand Mises's case for a priorism as opposed to empiricism, but I already know that from "Human Action" (huan events are complex and variables can't be held constant so it is always possible to come up with different plausible explanations for happenings; you can never isolate specific causes and their effects because it is not clear what is causing what). Section 6 "Mises and the A Priori: The Extremist?" explains what Hayek thought was a critique of Mises and Kirzner shows how it wasn't but I couldn't follow him. The one page section "Mises and the A Priori: Not So Extreme!" was appreciated because it gives alot more plausibility to Mises's claims about economics having to proceed a priori; I like the idea of economic logic but I think empirical studies and just common sense observation have got to play a role in economics, though I need to think about this more.

Chapter Four was pretty familiar but "The Entreprenurial Character of the Misesian Market Process" was welcome because it just emphasized for me how central the entreprenuer is to Mises's conception of how the market works.

I skipped Chapter Five on monetary theory, the business cycle and interest rates but it looks pretty good.

Chapter Six tries to address how Mises reconciled his idea of value free economics with his passionate arguments for capitalism and against socialism and interventionism. Socialism can't work and interventionism produces consequences the intervenionists didn't want and eventually leads to socialism (which doesn't work ;) I accept the arguments by Ayn Rand on the foundations and standard of ethics and so I can argue rationally for capitalism but I don't know that von Mises can.

In the end, I think that one has to read von Mises himself to get an appreciation of just how deep and comprehensive his grasp of human action and economics is. But this book does provide a little context and a useful overview. Maybe I was expecting too much; after all, how are you going to do justice to one of the greatest thinkers of all time in 200, double spaced pages? Can't be done.

3 out of 5 stars Economic Man.......2002-05-08

In his autobiography, Russell Kirk told a story about Ludwig von Mises that I found revealing. The city of Geneva had allocated plots of land upon which citizens could grow their own food. When Mises visited economist Wilhelm Roepke in Geneva, he scorned this method as an inefficient way of producing food. Roepke replied that it was nevertheless an efficient way of producing human happiness.

Mises was less interested in happiness, morality, and value judgments, in part because he considered them separate from his main interest, what he called the universal, scientific laws of economics and the "pure logic" of human action. He believed these laws were as simple and true as theorems in geometry.

Prof. Kirzner shows how Mises' views grew out of conflicts with various economic schools of thought, then analyzes his approach to market processes, monetary theory, cycle theory, and rate of interest. In the last chapter he portrays Mises as one of the most vigorous defenders of laissez-faire.

Kirzner knows his subject, and he does a decent job of trying to explain complex matters in a relatively short space. But the reader with no formal knowledge of economic theory will face some difficulties, including wrestling with terms such as fiduciary media, neutral money, positive time preference, sloping demand curves, praxeology, wertfreiheit, numeraire, and consumer sovereignty. Mises believed he was creating not merely a new economics but a new epistemology. Consequently he shares the philosopher's habit of defining and redefining terms, abstract generalizing, and numerous qualifications and asides. Much the same could be said for Kirzner, who repeatedly interrupts his prose with parenthetical commentary. I imagine many readers will find the book inaccessible.

Kirzner concludes that Mises never explored in detail the problem of translating theory into policy -- the very thing that readers will likely want to know. It was at this point, the last 20 pages or so, that I understood why the book was often unclear.

It is worth remembering that Mises called himself not a conservative but a classical liberal, a revolutionary even, in the utilitarian tradition of Bentham and Mill. He was an absolutist in regard to the free market. He believed any government intervention disrupted "natural" processes and necessarily led down the slippery slope to socialism. He saw little role for government except the protection of private property, and therefore scorned measures such as minimum wage, social security, protective tariffs, anti-trust, and progressive taxation. For Mises these were laws that had centralized power in democratic Germany and had paved the way for Hitler and the National Socialist party.

No surprise, then, that Mises attached high importance to his own theories and to defending them, for he believed quite literally that he was saving the human race. Unfortunately, this self-centeredness led also to intransigence and harshness toward those who disagreed with him, in a manner reminiscent of another libertarian icon, Ayn Rand. Both came dangerously close to believing in the Marxist fallacy of Economic Man.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent.......2001-10-22

ISI Books has just come out with a series called Library of Modern Thinkers, which will contain summaries of the thought of important (for lack of a better term) conservative and libertarian thinkers - kind of like an Oxford University Press "Past Masters." According to the jacket, current and forthcoming titles will cover Nisbet, Ropke, Oakeshott, de Jouvenal, Lytle. Francis G. Wilson and Will Herberg (in other words, thinkers that wouldn't be included in a series that contains volumes on such worthies as Foucault and Derrida).

If Prof. Kirzner's work on von Mises is representative, then this series will be an important contribution to the publishing world. Prof. Kirzner received his doctorate in economics in 1957 under von Mises and has written a number of important studies. This book is well organized and informative. It starts out with a chapter on von Mises' life, a chapter on his role in economics, and chapters on specific facets of his economic thought. It concludes with an overview of von Mises as the 20th century's preeminent free-market thinker.

As a layman in economics, I learned a lot about von Mises the man and economist. For example, there is a discussion on methodological differences between Hayek and von Mises, a discussion of the pioneering nature of much of his monetary thought, and how his thought differs from neoclassical economics. I found particularly insightful Prof. Kirzner's comment that Human Action isn't simply a compendium of Austrian thinking, but is truly a brilliant extension of Austrian thought to a vast swath of economic and sociological issues.

I have one big problem with the book. It is over 200 pages long, but it is double-spaced! In fact, there are no block quotes. Another quibble: according to the jacket, Friedman and Becker are "exponents" of the Austrian School.

5 out of 5 stars Mises Expounded and Defended.......2001-08-08

by Joseph R. Stromberg-- Israel Kirznerýs Ludwig von Mises is a welcome addition to the literature on Mises and economics. It is a very useful book, not only for the academic reader unfamiliar with Misesýs work but also for the intelligent layman. What is quite startling is just how much the author manages to accomplish within the compass of a fairly short work (220 pages).

Kirzner announces at the outset that he intends to tell "the story of Mises in his role of economist" (p. ix). His aim is to expound the "subtlety and depth of Misesian economics" while clarifying issues he thinks many readers of Mises have failed to grasp. Furthermore, Kirzner makes the case that Mises was the greatest free-market economist of the twentieth century.

The book begins with a thorough summary of Misesýs life (1881-1973) and of his achievements. It covers his education in Vienna in the shadow of the German Historical School and his break with that outlook after becoming acquainted with the opposed views of the Austrian School through reading and talking with Carl Menger (p. 3). Mises attended Böhm-Bawerkýs seminar and began publishing technical papers in economics. His first important work, The Theory of Money and Credit, came out in 1912, breaking new ground and extending the Austrian paradigm.

Kirzner introduces the years following World War I, during which time Mises advised the Austrian Chambers of Commerce, helping to avert runaway inflation in Austria; conducted his famous seminar; and published many important books and papers. The Nazi Anschluss drove Mises into exile in Switzerland, but in 1940, he came to the United States and later became a citizen. His masterwork, Human Action, was published in English in 1949, the same year that he began his famous New York seminar. That seminar continued into 1969.

Following the biographical sketch of Mises, Kirzner drops back to set Misesýs work in the broader context of early twentieth-century economic thought. Kirzner gives thumbnail sketches of the competing schoolsýGerman Historical, Marshallian, and Walrasian. This setting allows him to zero in on what was new and revolutionary in Misesýs writings. According to the author, Misesýs first great accomplishment was to integrate money and monetary theory into general Austrian economics, grounded on insights about marginal utility, subjective value, and acting human beings. Kirzner shows how and why Mises did this and how this led to his breakthrough into the Austrian theory of business cycles.

The author continues with a discussion of Misesian economics as a system self-consciously built upon rigorous, if unpopular, epistemological foundations. Kirzner contends that Mises shored up these foundations "because he came to be convinced that the vitally important lessons which economics can teach are likely to be dismissed on methodological grounds by those representing special interests" (p. 69). Mises believed that the rise of economic theory was, in itself, revolutionary in that it undercut earlier moralistic and power-political approaches to the study of human societies.

Kirzner proceeds in a straight line to an excellent summation of the Austrian systemýs architectonic structure. Apparent detours turn out to be necessary background to Misesýs views and shed more light on them by giving an account of competing ideas and traditions. There is a generous evenhandedness in the way in which Kirzner sorts out differences and agreements between Mises and Hayek. The lucid presentation of difficult concepts make this a useful book even for those who already know a great deal about the subjects covered.
The Foundations of Modern Austrian Economics
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Foundations of Modern Austrian Economics
    Herbert Brokering
    Manufacturer: HarperCollins (paper)
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: 0030537916
    The Foundations of Modern Austrian Economics (Studies in Economic Theory)
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Living in a kaleidic society
    The Foundations of Modern Austrian Economics (Studies in Economic Theory)

    Manufacturer: New York University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    TheoryTheory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
    ASIN: 0836206533

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Living in a kaleidic society.......2005-12-04

    Economics is known and derided all over the world at the same time. It lies at the heart of most government policies yet it's predictions are mostly wrong. There are more jokes about economics/economists than about most other things and and the same time within the general economics community there are many scholars who seek to improve the academic standing of the discipline. For a subject which has a Nobel prize there is a remarkable degree of debate and disagreement about the nature of the beast.

    This volume collects together a number of papers presented at a conference organised by the Institute of Humane Studies in 1974 at Royalton College in Vermont. This conference marked a resurgence of interest in the so-called Austrian School of Economics which today is supported by thousands of economists throughout the world many of whom have studied at one of the handful of American centres of research in the sub-discipline.

    For the novice, looking towards an introduction to the Austrian school may I suggest Stephen Littlechild's excellent work, which although a little dated remains the best available, the Fallacy of the Mixed Economy.

    The book is organised under four headings, Introduction, Theory and Method, Applications and Conclusion while the main contributors Murray Rothbard, Israel Kirzner and Ludwig Lachmann, who present tha majority of the papers represent three different strands of the Austrian scholarly tradition at the time.

    Dolan presents a summary of the tradition as an introduction to the book, presenting some of the central concepts and highlighting some of the differences between the Austrians and mainstream economics. In the following section, Theory and History Rothbard and Kirzner set out their stalls on the basis of the Austrain Movement. History and the phiosophy of the schoola are more of Rothbard's area of expertise while Kirzner looks at methodolgy and implications.

    For me, the third section was the more interesting for the elucidation of some key concepts and the differences between orthodox economics as we know it today. These papers are mainly the perogative of Kirzner and Lachmann although Rothbard contributes a paper on Austrian theory of money, a subject close to his heart and one which is vigorously promoted by the Mises Institute. For anyone new to this area these papers will open their eyes to some continuing controversies in the field. There is also an interesting paper by O'Driscoll and Shenoy on the general applicability of Austrian analysis to the then serious problem of stagflation rather than the failed analysis of the monetarist and Keynesian camps.

    The conclusion is a rather elegant and concise paper by Lachmann in an appeal to further develop the Austrian tradition as a distinct entity but to do so in conjunction with some of the reformists in the mainstream, citing Leijonhufvud and Shackle, making common cause to bring those tools and analyses into the general discipline.

    Whilst primarily of historic interest in seeing how the Austrian School was reinvigorated by the bringing together of those scholars , it is essentially a call to arms after all, this is a useful introduction to the central tenents of Austrian economics other than by studying the original texts.

    At a time when the economics profession both in academia and out is under considerable intellectual attack from a number of positions it is rewarding to note that while orthodoxy is failing there is a considerable body of thought and continuing research out there which is both relevant and useful. My rating of four stars is primarily due to some of the papers being overlong and with lengthy citations which detract from the main analysis. No criticism of the editor is intended, just a personal view of the compositions.
    The Legacy of Ludwig Von Mises (Intellectual Legacies in Modern Economic)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Legacy of Ludwig Von Mises (Intellectual Legacies in Modern Economic)

      Manufacturer: Edward Elgar Publishing
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      AuthorsAuthors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
      TheoryTheory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 1840644028

      Book Description

      `The profoundly original Ludwig von Mises made pioneering contributions to our understanding of the modern economy in a number of areas: the problem of economic calculation under socialism, the dynamics of the mixed economy, the ordering role of market forces in banking and finance, and the monetary-shock theory of the business cycle. Editors Peter Boettke and Peter Leeson have usefully brought together a wide-ranging collection of papers - including some surprising choices - to exemplify fruitful research along Misesian lines. These volumes will help to give to Mises's insights the greater prominence among economists that they richly deserve.'
      - Lawrence H. White, University of Missouri, St. Louis, US


      Ludwig von Mises is not the most well-known classical liberal political economist of the twentieth century. He has remained relatively obscure because both methodologically and ideologically his thinking went against the prevailing mood and on a personal level he was more difficult to approach than other thinkers of his time. However, among those in the know, he is considered to be the architect of Austrian economic thought, the most ardent defender of classical liberalism in the last century and history's strongest critic of socialism.
      The Meaning of Market Process: Essays in the Development of Modern Austrian Economics (Foundations of the Market Economy)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The Meaning of Market Process: Essays in the Development of Modern Austrian Economics (Foundations of the Market Economy)
        Israel Kirzner
        Manufacturer: Routledge
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Library Binding

        Economic HistoryEconomic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        MacroeconomicsMacroeconomics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        TheoryTheory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
        AustriaAustria | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
        ASIN: 0415068665

        Book Description

        Israel Kirzner is the foremost proponent of the modern Austrian theory of the market process. Although this theory concurs with many of the major policy implications of neo-classical economics, it sharply diverges from much of the substance and methodology of neo-classicism.

        Austrian economists criticize the "tight equilibrium" approach of the mainstream and emphasize the crucial role of ignorance, uncertainty, and the passage of time. By introducing the role of the entrepreneur and of entrepreneurial discovery--an innovation in which Kirzner's earlier work has played a central role--modern Austrian economists believe that it is possible to steer a middle course between those who believe the world to be always in full coordination, and those who believe it has no important coordinating properties at all.

        The Meaning of Market Process offers new substantive insights in support of this Austrian position, and new historical interpretations of how the ideas of the modern Austrians have emerged. The essays focus particularly on the pioneering work of Carl Menger, the contributions of von Mises and Hayek, and the famous interwar socialist calculation debate--issues which are especially relevant at a time when the economic failures of socialism have become widely recognized.

        The Meaning of Market Process: Essays in the Development of Modern Austrian Economics (Foundations of the Market Economy)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          The Meaning of Market Process: Essays in the Development of Modern Austrian Economics (Foundations of the Market Economy)
          Israel Kirzner
          Manufacturer: Routledge
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          GeneralGeneral | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
          TheoryTheory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
          All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
          Similar Items:
          1. Competition and Entrepreneurship Competition and Entrepreneurship
          2. The Economics of Time and Ignorance (Foundations of the Market Economy) The Economics of Time and Ignorance (Foundations of the Market Economy)

          ASIN: 0415137381

          Book Description

          For twenty years, Israel Kirzner has been one of the foremost proponents of the modern Austrian economics in the United States. In The Meaning of the Market Process, he extends his analysis of the implications of the Austrian approach while comparing it to both neoclassical and radical subjectivist approaches. This theory, while concurring with many of the major policy implications of neo-classical economics, sharply dissents from much of the substance and methodology of neo-classicism. Emphasising the crucial role of ignorance, uncertainty, and the passage of time, Austrian economists criticize the `tight equilibrium' approach of the mainstream. Yet the Austrians refuse to conclude that the major conclusions of economics are to be rejected. By introducing the role of the entrepreneur and of entrepreneurial discovery (an innovation in which the author's earlier work has played a central role), modern Austrian economists believe it possible to steer a middle course between those who believe the world tobe at all time

          The Meaning of Market Process: Essays in the Development of Modern Austrian Economics. (book reviews): An article from: Southern Economic Journal
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            The Meaning of Market Process: Essays in the Development of Modern Austrian Economics. (book reviews): An article from: Southern Economic Journal
            Richard A. Gonce
            Manufacturer: Southern Economic Association
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Digital
            ASIN: B00092SDE4
            Release Date: 2005-07-28

            Book Description

            This digital document is an article from Southern Economic Journal, published by Southern Economic Association on April 1, 1993. The length of the article is 1086 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

            Citation Details
            Title: The Meaning of Market Process: Essays in the Development of Modern Austrian Economics. (book reviews)
            Author: Richard A. Gonce
            Publication: Southern Economic Journal (Refereed)
            Date: April 1, 1993
            Publisher: Southern Economic Association
            Volume: v59 Issue: n4 Page: p839(2)

            Article Type: Book Review

            Distributed by Thomson Gale

            Books:

            1. How to Buy, Sell, and Profit on eBay: Kick-Start Your Home-Based Business in Just Thirty Days
            2. In Defense of Advertising: Arguments from Reason, Ethical Egoism, and Laissez-Faire Capitalism
            3. Information Technology for Management: Transforming Organizations in the Digital Economy
            4. International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures (5th Edition)
            5. Killing Floor
            6. Leading Change
            7. Machers and Rockers: Chess Records and the Business of Rock & Roll (Enterprise)
            8. Mastering Elliot Wave: Presenting the Neely Method: The First Scientific, Objective Approach to Market Forecasting with the Elliott Wave Theory (version 2)
            9. Mastering Elliot Wave: Presenting the Neely Method: The First Scientific, Objective Approach to Market Forecasting with the Elliott Wave Theory (version 2)
            10. Micromotives and Macrobehavior (Fels Lectures on Public Policy Analysis)

            Books Index

            Books Home

            Recommended Books

            1. Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War
            2. The Gregg Reference Manual
            3. Extreme Science: Chasing the Ghost Bat: And Other Mysteries of Nature
            4. Human Body Dynamics: Classical Mechanics and Human Movement
            5. Microbiology: An Introduction Brief Edition
            6. Teacher Interviews: How to Get Them and How to Get Hired!
            7. St. Albans Fire
            8. e-topia
            9. Italia: The Art of Living Italian Style
            10. Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe: A Naturetrek Guide