Category: Praxeology

Praxeology is a field of study that focuses on the logical structure of human action.

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Praxeological Investigations

The more you know the more you grow. After reading Prof. Roderick Long’s book Praxeological Investigation: Wittgenstein, Austrian Economics, and the Logic of Action, I have revised my understanding of praxeology. I must admit Prof. Long’s book had a great impact on my understanding of economics and philosophy.

Praxeological Investigations examine praxeology, the science of human action, as propounded by Ludwig Von Mises. Prof. Long clarifies various points of contention among praxeology’s proponents and opponents and gives praxeology a better foundation using the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

I highly recommend Praxeological Investigation for those interested in understanding praxeology as well as the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein. You can download and read it for free here. Check out his other writings at praxeology.net.

silhouette of man
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Praxeological Prelude (Part 5)

So you enjoy reading this post. I mean, you’re still reading it. No judgment from me. I’m glad you find it useful. You must see some value in it. That further concludes my discussion on praxeology today.

From Praxeological Prelude (part 1)

Human action is purposeful behavior. Human action is also useful in achieving one’s goal. The value of the action and is tied to the usage of the action.

Take reading for example. Reading this post is an action amongst many actions you could take right now. You could read this post now, later, or ignore it and do something else. Assuming your goal is to understand this post, you have chosen the action of reading to achieve your goal. You chose the act of reading over the act of ignoring this post.

Individuals have different scales of value. In addition, those scales of value are subject to change at different times. Others may have chosen a different action than yours today and a different action the next day thus showing their subjective valuations.

The value of your action is in accordance with your action. You chose to read this blog post and I appreciate it thank you for valuing it that much.

Until next time.

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Praxeological Prelude (Part 4)

Choices assume preferences. Whenever human action occurs, the choice of action is made with a preference for one action over another for a certain goal.

From Praxeological Prelude (Part 1):

So you’re continuing to read this post. You must prefer reading this post. This also concludes my discussion on praxeology today.

Choices are made all the time however choices are not limitless or random. Instead our choices are structured and limited by our preferences.

Preferences inform our choices. It is our preferences that provide the structure for our choice of action toward certain goals.

Therefore our choices stand on our preferences when faced with options toward certain goals. Human action is goal oriented behavior.

Until next time.

a couple standing by the book on shelves
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Praxeological Prelude (Part 3)

The previous post covered what human action is and is not. Here, I will cover choice which is the condition of human action.

Human action is purposeful behavior. Action is choosing.

Choosing coincides with human action. For example reading this post or ignoring this post are both forms of action one chooses.

You may choose to read this post or skip it but both are forms of actions in context of purposeful behavior. You cannot do either without choice or else we could not identify it as human action. Instead we would identify it as reflexive behavior.

Action is Choosing

In my last post I ended with hypothetical questions concerning human action.

You may say “Okay, I get it. Humans do stuff. But what if they don’t do anything. I can purposely do nothing at all. What about human inaction, accidental action, or zombie action? What about involuntary action or action against my will?”

The choice to purposely do something or do nothing is a choice as such. Human action and human choice are inseparable but distinct. In order to act one must choose.

The question of human inaction, accidental action or zombie action can be divided by one question. Was the given example purposeful behavior (action) or reflexive behavior (motion)?

Human inaction is purposeful behavior so long as choosing to do nothing stems from free will.

Accidental action is reflexive behavior if it is an unconscious move.

If zombies are reanimated unconscious human beings then their actions are reflexive behaviors.

I will cover actions against one’s will in future posts.

Until next time.

a man in gray suit jacket reading a book
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Praxeological Prelude (Part 2)

The term praxeology seems like a difficult word to understand. However, I will show you that this word is not very difficult to understand. It is a science we use every day.

Praxeology

Praxeology is the conceptual analysis of human action. It is a science that focuses on the logical implications of human action.

Conceptual analysis? Logical implications? Human action? Technical terms to explain a technical term can multiply confusion.

Let me make praxeology easier to understand: Humans act.

Humans Act

My previous post was my humorous attempt to describe praxeology. I began by pointing to the act of reading and I repeated a pattern that I will explain throughout following posts.

Here I want to start with the first paragraph from that post.

So you’re currently reading this post. Well done! That concludes my discussion on praxeology today.

And here you are again reading my post. Your experience of reading my post is a human act.

That’s easy enough to understand and most obvious. But is it really?

Human Action is

Human action is purposeful behavior. Purposeful behavior is behavior that stems from free will. Therefore, we could say that human action is the will put into action.

You are willfully reading my post right now. In fact, all of your activities today are human actions so long as it is purposeful behavior.

Human Action is not

Human action is not reflexive behavior. Reflexive behavior is behavior that does not stem from free will. Therefore, we could say that unconscious behavior is not human action but simply motion.

For example, your heart continues beating apart from your will. It is in motion but not human action. There are other unconscious behaviors your body exhibits such as your knee-jerk reflex, sneezing, or epileptic seizure.

Human Action is Praxeology

You may say “Okay, I get it. Humans do stuff. But what if they don’t do anything. I can purposely do nothing at all. What about human inaction, accidental action, or zombie action? What about involuntary action or action against my will?”

I will get into these questions and more in future posts. It is because of praxeology that I can get into these questions.

Praxeology is the formal science that allows for the understanding of these questions concerning human action and their answers. Praxeology provides context for understanding the nature of human action.

Until next time.