John Maynard Keynes Only Briefly Studied Economics
It turns out that John Maynard Keynes never intended to be the most significant economist of the 20th century. Keynes left Eton for King's College in Cambridge in 1902 after being awarded a scholarship to study mathematics there as well. Keynes was begged by Alfred Marshall to pursue a career in economics, but his own interests were in philosophy, particularly G. E. Moore's ethical philosophy.
He graduated with a first-class BA in mathematics in May 1904. Although he was an expert in the field, he wanted to explore other philosophical avenues. With the exception of a few months spent on vacation with family and friends, Keynes spent the following two years staying active with the institution after temporarily leaving Cambridge. He participated in discussions, continued his study of philosophy, and attended unofficially for one term as a graduate student in economics lectures. One of the interesting facts about John Maynard Keynes is this was John Maynard Keynes's sole official education in economics, and it's significant to note that he never took an exam or obtained a degree in the field.
The early optimism Keynes experienced is crucial to understanding his later thinking, according to economist Harry Johnson. Keynes consistently believed he could find a solution to each issue he focused on, and never wavered in his belief in the capacity of public servants to do right.
