My background was also math and physics, before going into econ. However, I was already pretty skeptical of using the same kind of mathematics in econ that gets used in physics. I think the Austrians get that mostly right. 

I do think there's a huge role for set theory and abstract algebra, though; a la Kenneth Arrow's famous work.

I mostly do econometrics in my own research. While I don't think that's the right way to understand economics, I do think it's invaluable for understanding economic history.

Undisciplined

Meta Econ Takeover Day 45

> Disciplines that don't ground their theories in rigorous analysis also tend to go off the rails.

Yup.  Or condemn themselves to irrelevance.  Answering all criticisms by pointing to your deductive system is not a winning recipe.