ABSTRACT
The concept of explanation is too complex and elusive, and the modes of explanation in different disciplines are too diverse, to permit a thoroughgoing treatment of this subject in a paper of moderate compass. The object here is therefore more modest, namely, to convey some broad impressions of recent changes in the discussion of problems of explanation in economics and history influenced by the reaction against “positivist” philosophy. 1 This reaction has had a greater potential significance for economics than for history given the economists' long-standing desire to be regarded as scientists, whatever that may mean, an aspiration that has had comparatively little appeal to historians. Thus if, as will be argued here, there is a convergence of interests and views between economists and historians concerned with their disciplines' methodologies and practices, this is more likely to be attributable to movements among the former than among the latter. And, indeed, without underestimating the force of professional inertia, this movement is by no means confined to specialist writers on economic methodology.
