This book examines the economic ideas of notable scientists and how they have contributed to the conception of science, technology, and innovation within the history of economic thought. It examines the economic ideas of notable scientists and evaluates their position within the history of economics. From Copernicus’ interests in monetary theory and Galileo’s pondering of the relationship between science and technology, to Einstein’s analysis of the Great Depression and Marie Curie’s innovations in the financing of research, a long history of the relationship between science, technology, and economics is presented.This book offers unique insight into an overlooked contribution to economic thought. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in technological development and the history of economic thought.
Estrella Trincado Aznar is Professor of History of Economic Thought at the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
1. Introduction.- 2. Inequality and primitive science: Thales, Pythagoras, Arquimedes and Hipatia of Alexandria.- 3. Copernicus and the monetary reform.- 4. Galileo and the dialogue between science and theology.- 5. Newton, Warden of the Mint.- 6. Newton, Smith on the Unity of sciences.- 7. Linnaeus, Darwin and Malthusianism.- 8. Mendelian paradox and scientific revolutions.- 9. Da Vinci, Edison and inventions.- 10. Boole, Whewell, Jevons and the method in economics.- 11. Fleming, Pasteur and vaccination.- 12. The Great Depression: Einstein and Fisher.- 13. The problem of time: a debate between Bergson and Einstein.- 14. Marie Curie, the financing of science.- 15. Finances and Poincaré: The correspondence with Walras.- 16. Tesla on competition and eugenics.- 17. Perspectivismo: Ortega y Gasset and Valentín Andrés Álvarez.- 18. Schrödinger, Georgescu Roegen and thermodynamics.- 19. Pavlov, Mendeléyev, Alferov and scientific administration in a soviet economy.- 20. Ramón y Cajal and Complexity economics.- 21. Lise Meitner and the nuclear bomb.- 22. Benjamin Franklin and the American Enlightenment.- 23. Jane Goodall and climate change.- 24. Econophysics and the new proposal of physiconomics.- 25. Conclusion.