This work investigates the fundamental question of whether economics should be treated as a rigid mathematical science or as a flexible, creative art of thought. The authors, Peter Earl and S. Frowen, draw upon historical economic thought and philosophical inquiry to argue that the discipline has become overly reliant on formal modeling at the expense of human intuition and qualitative reasoning. They propose a framework that encourages economists to integrate broader intellectual traditions to better understand complex social phenomena.

Experts recognize this text as a significant contribution to the philosophy of economics, often cited by those interested in heterodox approaches to the field. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which requires a solid foundation in economic history to fully appreciate the authors' arguments.