Abstract
The paper poses the question whether the economics of science could be the key to economic methodology. First, the sociology of science, which tries to put science in social context, is described. Then, the economic approach to science inspired by Bartley, Wible, Tullock, Stigler and Becker is explained. We point out that knowledge originates in the competitive process of scientific criticism in similar way as economic wealth originates in the competitive market process and the competition among many individuals.
Keywords: economics of science, philosophy of science, sociology of science
JEL Classification: A11, A14, I21