The last major work discussed by Heilbroner comes from 1942. If you were updating the book, what contemporary problems and questions would post-1942 worldly philosophers have to grapple with?

The Worldly Philosophers splits each chapter between the biography of each thinker and a summary of their most important work. What does knowledge of their personal history add to your understanding of their ideas?

In the final chapter, Heilbroner argues that economics cannot be a science, and should stop aspiring to be one. What do you think of this argument? How does the practice of the worldly philosopher differ from the mathematically driven economic professional?