Refuting Imaginary Theories

According to Tim Worstall, The Guardian is criticizing imaginary theories of economics, e.g., the theory that human beings act like “economic man,” a theory that is thought to be part of economics but only in the imaginations of non-economists. As I've said before:

It's as though they were rejecting modern physics on the grounds that not everything is relative or Darwin's explanation of evolution on the grounds that the fittest don't always survive.

Question: Is the theory that economics dictates that people act like “economic man” responsible for Steven Chu's belief that it's legitimate to force people to not waste their own money?