The Moral Economists

The Moral Economists is part historiographical exegesis, part subtle polemic about the limitations of contemporary critiques of capitalism. . . . Rogan looks to history for help in understanding capitalism, its works and its empty promises. ---Katrina Navickas, London Review of Books Rogan's captivating work of intellectual history demonstrates that utilitarianism shaped much of the Left, as well as the Right's thinking on social questions. ---Patrick Diamond, Times Literary Supplement A timely, vivid and attractive book, vindicating on every page Rogan's choice of three musketeers, handing on their flame to their noble heirs. ---Fred Inglis, Times Higher Education The Moral Economists provides an original and provocative interpretation of the political thought of R. H. Tawney, Karl Polanyi, and E. P. Thompson. Rogan gives a close and illuminating reading of key texts by these authors, uncovers forgotten intellectual connections that link them together, and reveals a distinctive lineage of social criticism that deserves to be widely discussed. This is a highly impressive, thought-provoking, and timely work. --Ben Jackson, University of Oxford This important book examines the origins, content, development, and eclipse of the 'moral economy' in twentieth-century British thought. Richly contextualizing a tradition that sought to critique capitalism in moral terms, The Moral Economists should command attention from intellectual historians, historians of capitalism, and anyone interested in thinking outside the terms of economic discourse today. --Guy Ortolano, New York University At a time when the absence of a moral economy is the fundamental shortcoming in politics, Tim Rogan's exploration of the three most important moral economists of the Left is extremely important. This book frames the debate about what a critique of capitalism should look like and Rogan has done us all a great service by writing it. --Maurice Glasman, author of Unnecessary Suffering: Managing Market Utopia This remarkable book tells the story of a British socialism connecting the work of 'moral economists' R. H. Tawney, Karl Polanyi, and E. P. Thompson. In the twentieth century, the 'moral economy' sought to navigate a path between neoliberal individualism and authoritarian collectivism. Tim Rogan impressively charts the difficulties attending this attempt to move from an argument for progressive politics derived from Christianity to one based on modern social science. --Gareth Stedman Jones, Queen Mary University of London In a marriage of historical imagination and brilliant timing, Tim Rogan offers a marvelous survey of ethical critics of capitalism in twentieth-century England. From R. H. Tawney to Amartya Sen, these intellectuals appealed to hidden solidarities to contrast with market values. Rogan participates in their task by concisely and insightfully excavating the context, meaning, and significance of their pioneering contributions, successfully linking their causes to our contemporary quandaries. --Samuel Moyn, Yale University