“Guarding the boundaries”: the controversial relationship between economics and philosophy in the dialogue between Benedetto Croce and Vilfredo Pareto

This article examines the 1900-01 debate between Benedetto Croce and Vilfredo Pareto on economics and philosophy, offering a novel interpretation. It views their dialogue as pivotal in shaping the separation between these fields in the 20th century, with Pareto’s influence persisting. However, it disputes the debate’s conclusions, largely dominated by Pareto’s positivism. The notion of a clear demarcation between economics and philosophy, with each discipline “guarding its own boundaries,” as finally stated by Croce, is deemed both scientifically flawed and philosophically unattainable. Consequently, this paper challenges Pareto and Croce’s notion of rigid boundaries, advocating for an integrated approach.