Missing Persons

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The prevailing Western cultural consensus, rooted in free markets and individualism, has led many social scientists to view poverty primarily as a personal experience, characterized by material deprivation and distribution failures. Mary Douglas and Steven Ney critique this dominant perspective, highlighting its contradictions and tracing them back to a limited understanding of the human person shaped by two centuries of intellectual history. They identify two key principles—solipsist self and objectivity—as central to these contradictions. The concept of Economic Man, originating in 18th-century economic theory, has permeated various fields, including psychology, consumption, public assistance, political science, and philosophy. Douglas and Ney argue that this perspective distorts statistical data used in policy analysis, often masking political biases. To address this, they advocate for a revised model of the person that incorporates cultural biases and recognizes political dissent, thereby restoring the "persons" often overlooked in social science discussions. By drawing on insights from anthropology, economics, political science, and sociology, the authors offer a fundamental critique of the social sciences. Their work appeals not only to social scientists but also to anyone involved in contemporary debates about poverty. This publication is a collaboration with the Russell Sage Foundation.