ABSTRACT
Much as the life of John Rae might be described as intriguing and dynamic, so too could his thought. Although I had not at first envisaged that this topic would necessitate an overview of virtually all of Rae’s intellectual contribution, I now believe that it does, at least briefly. Therefore I begin with the broadest notions involved in any discussion of a methodology, that it can be useful to the absorption and transmission of knowledge to discuss Rae’s commitment to learning, his position on the limitations on knowledge, and his rhetoric for a most appropriate methodology for any subject. As a second part of the chapter I shall examine the methodologies Rae actually employed in his study of political economy from three points of view: that of his critics, his own opinion, and finally my own from my reading of his work containing economic ideas. Some closing remarks will reflect on the importance and relevance of Rae’s methodology for economics today.
