Markets with Limits: How the Commodification of Academia Derails Debate

James Stacey Taylor argues that current debates over the moral limits of markets have derailed by focusing on a market-critical position that almost nobody holds and an argument that trade in certain goods or services is wrongful solely because of what it would communicate. He develops a taxonomy of the positions that are actually held by critics of markets and clarifies the role played in current moral and political philosophy by arguments that justify or condemn certain actions owing in part to what they communicate. He concludes with suggestions to encourage academics to conduct research in accord with academic norms and improve its quality.

Format: Hardback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 03 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In Markets with Limits, James Stacey Taylor takes a critical stance on the current debates surrounding the moral limits of markets. He argues that these discussions have deviated from the actual positions held by critics of markets, focusing on a market-critical position that few people endorse. Taylor challenges this notion by proposing a taxonomy of the different positions held by market critics and clarifying the role played by arguments that justify or condemn certain actions based on their communicative effects.

Taylor contends that the debates have been misguided because they were conducted within the framework of market norms rather than academic standards. He argues that this demonstrates the need for market thinking to be excluded from academic research.

Markets with Limits offers valuable insights and suggestions for improving the exegetical quality of academic research. It systematically identifies the primary exegetical errors made by Jason Brennan and Peter Jaworski in their influential book, Markets Without Limits. Taylor argues that despite the widespread perception that semiotic objections to markets are prevalent in the literature, they are actually rare or nonexistent. He provides an up-to-date taxonomy of the current positions held by market critics, which can help scholars better understand and evaluate the arguments in this field.

The book concludes with recommendations for encouraging academics to conduct research in accordance with academic norms, which can enhance the rigor, validity, and relevance of their work. By adopting these guidelines, scholars can contribute to a more informed and rigorous understanding of the moral limits of markets and their implications for society.

Weight: 589g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032171494