ABSTRACT
The main objective of this chapter is to arrive at a clearer understanding of aspects of Keynes’ methodology. In order to achieve this I think it is both interesting and instructive to consider some Popperian criticisms that have been directed at Keynes’ contribution. Such criticisms suggest that the methodological perspectives of Keynes and Popper are different, if not incompatible. Surprisingly, however, it seems on close examination of Keynes’ and Popper’s work that the two are far closer than is usually believed. One question that this conclusion raises is whether such similarities extend to shared criticisms of Friedman’s instrumentalism. We know that Popper rejects this methodology, but what might Keynes’ attitude have been? In what follows, I shall dJst outline the basic methodologies of Keynes and Popper. Then I shall consider the Popperian criticisms of Keynes and assess their validity. Finally, by extending the now established similarities between Keynes and Popper, the former’s likely views on Friedman’s instrumentalism will be discussed.
