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Matt_Simpson comments on I want to learn economics - Less Wrong
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It does in the case of the (some) austrians. They don't think economics can be empirical - it's purely a theoretical science for them. And with no math.
And yet, even Rothbard's America’s Great Depression makes hundreds of references to empirical facts (and uses quite a bit of descriptive statistics). My point is that there is a very loose connection between the stated methodological principles of economists and the actual manner in which they perform their research and construct their arguments.
I agree in general, but not for the hardcore Austrians like Rothbard. The facts are illustrative only for Rothbard. His argument doesn't rest on empirical observations.
I apologize for being unclear. I agree with your point that the facts Rothbard uses are "illustrative only", but I deny that this separates Rothbard's work from most of the economics profession. He is simply more upfront about it.
Of course, I agree entirely with your advice not to start learning economics within the Austrian Paradigm, which is why all of the texts I suggested were within the Neoclassical Paradigm.
Ah, I see. My impression of the economics profession as a whole is that there is a large group for which you're description fits and another large group for which it doesn't, but I don't have any communicable evidence for this position. I've personally worked with several economists in the latter category, but they would probably put most of the profession in the former.