--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For far too long economists have sought…" description: "\"For far too long economists have sought to define themselves in terms of their supposedly scientific methods. In fact, those methods rely on an immoder..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/thomas-piketty-3584_economics_for-far-too-long-economists-have-sought_321253.jpg" --- # For far too long economists have sought to define… ![“For far too long economists have sought to define themselves in terms of their supposedly scientific methods. In fact, those methods rely on an immoderate use of mathematical models, which are frequently no more than an excuse for occupying the terrain and masking the vacuity of the content.” quote by Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/thomas-piketty-3584_economics_for-far-too-long-economists-have-sought_321253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/thomas-piketty-3584_economics_for-far-too-long-economists-have-sought_321253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9be/thomas-piketty-3584_economics_for-far-too-long-economists-have-sought_321253.jpg) > “For far too long economists have sought to define themselves in terms of their supposedly scientific methods. In fact, those methods rely on an immoderate use of mathematical models, which are frequently no more than an excuse for occupying the terrain and masking the vacuity of the content.” [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economists over‑rely on mathematical models, using them to hide lack of substantive content. **In simple terms:** Economists use math to mask weak ideas. Key Takeaway Prioritize substantive insight over model reliance. Themes economics methodology critique intellectual honesty modeling Mood critical skeptical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - policy analysis - academic research - public debate - education curriculum Key Concepts philosophy of science epistemology critical theory Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports the model’s assumptions? - How can we balance rigor with relevance? A Different Perspective Models can be useful tools when applied appropriately, not just excuses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economist/) [Economists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economists/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Mathematical models](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical-models/) [Scientific method](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-method/) [Vacuity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vacuity/) ## Related quotes > [“For far too long, economists have neglected the distribution of wealth, partly because of Kuznets’s optimistic conclusions and partly because of the profession’s undue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/for-far-too-long-economists-have-neglected-the-distribution-of-wealth/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [Science is what scientists do, and there are as many scientific methods as there are individual scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-williams-bridgman/science-is-what-scientists-do-and-there-are-as-many-scientific/) [Percy Williams Bridgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-williams-bridgman/) > [I conceive that the leading characteristic of the nineteenth century has been the rapid growth of the scientific spirit, the consequent application of scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/i-conceive-that-the-leading-characteristic-of-the-nineteenth-century/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [After years of work in both areas of study, I concluded that the social sciences were different, in many important ways, from the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-quigley/after-years-of-work-in-both-areas-of-study-i-concluded-that-the/) [Carroll Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-quigley/) > [“Throughout this Introduction we will see that confusing our mathematical models with the reality they aim to describe muddles the discussion of both.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-a-smith/throughout-this-introduction-we-will-see-that-confusing-our/) Leonard A. 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