Robinson & theory vs. history

[GREG RANSOM <GRANSOM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Quite a number of folks on PKT like to reference
Joan Robinson on the distinction between 'theory' and
'history'.  Is there any literature on Robinson's
participation in the discussions of this classic problem
in economics?  I'd particularly find it helpful to get
some references which discuss Robinson's contribution in
relation to other economists, e.g. Frank Knight or the
American institutionalist, etc.

As a further thought i'm wondering what percentage of
economists who are aware of the theory / history distinction
have any awareness of the roots of this distinction in
the work of Kant and Hegel, and the German neo-Kantians &
neo-Hegelians.  (And now that i mention it, what percentage
of contemporary economists would folks estimate have any
cognition of the theory / history distinction).  I'm guessing
that at least a few are aware of the theory / history
contention between Menger and Schmoller and a number of folks
in either camp.  Is there any awareness among economists of the
relation between the theory / history distinction in the work of
the neo-Kantians or neo-Hegelians and the discussions among
economists on this issue?  I'm having trouble finding much of any
literature on this topic, and would appreciate getting pointing
to any that anyone is familiar with.

What i'm wondering is if the discussions of German language social
theorists & philosophers is the source of Joan Robinson's thinking on
the theory / history problem .. or if this might be said also to be
the source of contemporary Post Keynesian thinking on the issue.



Greg Ransom
gransom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://members.aol.com/gregransom/hayekpage.htm