Limits to [Economists] Brains
by Jay Hanson
dieoff.org
I have been working on a twelve step program to introduce the laws of thermodynamics to economists, here are the first few steps:
# 1. The candidate economist must go to a library. There he or she will notice spheres sitting on wooden stands. These represent the planet we live on: Earth. Spheres like Earth are by definition finite -- they only hold just so much stuff. Economists are required to memorize this key point and say it over and over, "The Earth only holds just so much stuff because it's a sphere. The Earth only holds just so much stuff because it's a sphere. The Earth only holds just so much stuff because it's a sphere. ..." Economists are required to say it over and over until he or she can remember it without peeking at notes.
Next, the economist is ready for his or her very first BIG scientific experiment! The economist is advised to stay calm, and be sure to get a good night's sleep before attempting the experiment.
Read more »
# 2. Put a piece of cake on a plate.
# 3. Eat the cake.
# 4. See if you still have the cake.
Economists aren't used to empirical science and will have to do the experiment (#2 through #4) a few times before the implications finally sink in.
Well kids, that's the First Law (the Conservation Law). Isn't science fun!!! Can any economist tell the rest of the class what he or she has learned? ... Anyone? ... Nobel Laureate Friedman? ... Professor Nordhaus? ... Nobel Laureate Solow? ... Nobe Laureate Samuelson? ... Anyone? ...
No comments:
Post a Comment