MTSR 2012-03-23 HE and Stories of Jacob.pdf (430.51 kB)
Download fileHomo Economicus and the Stories of Jacob: On the Methodological Relevance of Rational Choice Theory for Studying the Hebrew Bible
journal contribution
posted on 2012-10-31, 14:44 authored by Sigmund Wagner-TsukamotoEconomics is widely accused of being a portrayer of a dark and dismal image of human nature (i.e. its
model of homo economicus as a self-interested, even selfish and opportunistic maximizer of its own
gains). This paper argues that the model of homo economicus is not an empirical or prescriptive
image of human nature but a useful, “heuristic”, methodical instrument for economic theorizing (in
our case, for the economic study of religion that connects to the Hebrew Bible). The paper
demonstrates that in generic, methodological perspective, the model of homo economicus
compares well to similarly unrealistic, “dismal” models of human nature in other disciplines that
study religion. I develop these arguments by focusing on selective stories from Genesis, especially
the stories of Jacob. Implications are derived regarding the application of economic methods and
concepts for research on the texts of the Hebrew Bible.
History
Citation
Method and Theory in the Study of Religion, 2013, 25 (1)Author affiliation
/Organisation/COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE/School of ManagementVersion
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)