Book review of « The world in the model » by Mary S. Morgan

This book on modelling in economics is a noteworthy instance of integrated history and philosophy of science (HPS). Mary S. Morgan begins by telling us that “[s]cience is messy”, that she will “eschew smoothness” and that her book is “a series of historical case studies through which the philosophical commentary runs” (xv)1. These statements might lead the reader to expect a much more fragmented book than what Morgan actually offers. With respect to the history, the case studies fit in a broader narrative about the “naturalization of modelling in economics” (sec. 1.2). With respect to the philosophy, the singular to “commentary” above is crucial: the philosophical commentary runs through the whole book instead of being fragmented into more or less independent commentaries for each case study. In the end, what Morgan wants to offer is “a broader account of how economics became, and works, as a modelling science” (xv). The case-based method is simply the most effective way, according to Morgan, to get detailed clues for the broader account. [...