Beyond the Methodenstreit: Intellectual and Historical Dimensions of the Debate between Carl Menger and the German Historians

Intellectual and Historical Dimensions of the Debate between Carl Menger and the German Historians

This work delves into the „Methodenstreit“ or „Debate over Method,“ highlighting the confrontation between the nascent Austrian School of Economics and its contemporaries from the German Historical School in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Through meticulous analysis, the book reveals how the debate transcends mere methodological differences to explore the complexities of political economy, philosophy, and the ethics of social reform. It thus exposes the rich intellectual and economic backdrop that informed Carl Menger’s stance against the prevailing trends since the 17th century. Employing an intellectual history approach, the study navigates the intersection between ideas and historical contingencies, emphasizing the dynamic relationship between a significant body of sources and documents to unravel the thought traditions and the philosophical, epistemological, sociological, and methodological commitments that defined both the Austrian School and its Prussian opponents.