Discussion Of The "Economic Man" Assumption

The "economic man" assumption is the core concept and theoretical starting point of Western economics, its development is a historical process, generally, it has experienced four stages:enlightenment, expansion, criticism and revision. Hobbes, Mandeville, Hume and other enlightenment thinkers in the time of Renaissance provided a sufficient theoretical support of "economic man" assumption, and Adam Smith evaluated the assumption systematically. Later, Bentham provided a psychological basis for "economic man" assumption, Nassau Senior and John Mueller provided a methodological basis for the assumption, and the marginalism used the mathematical analysis to demonstrate the system rigorously. With the "economic man" assumption be widely used, it had been criticized by many schools of thought, such as the historical school, new historical school and the institutional school. It also led to some economists such as James Buchanan and Gary Becker represented by the new use of some of the latest research results, to amend some of the harsh new-classical economics assumptions, reintegrate the various of non-economic factors into the "economic man" analysis mode, systematically examined the "economic man" model for the applicability of a wide range of human behavior, re-explain and demonstrate "economic man" assumption.The basic content of "economic man" assumption can be broadly summarized as follows:(1) self-serving motives; (2) rational behavior objectives; (3) methodological individualism. These three is an organic entirety. The study of "economic man" assumption should be clear the following:Firstly, the essence of"economic man" is self-interest, which includes two aspects, "selfish" and "altruism", self-interest is not equal to selfish. Secondly, "economic man" is not a real person, as a tool for people analyzing and predicting the phenomenon, it shouldn't, either can't be "completely true", thus its abstract method is reasonable. Thirdly, "economic man" assumption embodied the commonality of all human being."Economic man" has been plagued by controversy since its date of birth, but as a theoretical analysis of economics point, it's has a scientifically base. Moreover, the assumption is not conflict to the Marxist political economy. Through the amendment and beyond to the "economic man", make it do with the "other-interest man", "irrational man", "social man", "moral man" and "ecological man" is very important to China's construction of socialist market economy.