If you are here, you are probably wondering "What the heck is praxeology?"
Praxeology is the science of human action and exchange, which is somewhat redundant, as all actions are exchanges. It is the science that explains exchange.
"So what?" you ask, "What's the significance of that?"
Everything we do in society is an exchange. HOW we exchange makes a huge difference in the overall outcome of our efforts to achieve what we want. The primary application of praxeology is in economics, which my friend, Bettina Greaves, once defined simply as the study of getting what you want without grabbing. How we treat one another in society through our exchanges determines the degree of harmony and civility among us. Since peace is a major concern in this day and age, it's a pretty safe bet to claim that praxeology is of paramount importance to its achievement.
I will even go as far to say that it is the science of peace, for ultimately, it explains why peace is the social condition most conducive to bringing out the best, the highest aspirations, the greatest contributions, the most productivity, the highest living standard for the greatest number of people, and the greatest flow of human creative energy imaginable. But it goes beyond that. It explains why human liberty is the requirement--the prerequisite--for peace to exist.
Conversely, it also explains why conflict is least conducive to the best in man; and it goes beyond that: It explains why coercion creates and exacerbates conflict.
Praxeology was developed predominantly by Ludwig von Mises through the early half of the 20th century, and has been the most consistent foundation of economics through what is known as the Austrian School. Mises proposed that in the category of praxeology, economics is properly a sub-category, history is another. But while economics is the most developed of the praxeological sciences, history is the least.
The material available on praxeology is for the most part what many would call heavy reading.
I am attempting to simplify it--to put into layman's terms, even into terms that children can relate to and understand.
Currently, I have been drawn to working on myself as a writer and speaker, to express these ideas in simpler and simpler terms, not as much in intellectual terms--there are many out there doing a splendid job of that, but rather in meaningful, deeply knowing ways that touch the heart. I believe that's where the message is felt and remembered.
To view some of my work in this area, click here. I don't yet have recorded speeches yet to post.
More to come.
