> I still remember the reference to "the rational economic man"
> from my intro to economics class, John Stuart Mill: "an
> arbitrary definition of man, as a being who inevitably does
> that by which he may obtain the greatest amount of
> necessaries, conveniences, and luxuries, with the smallest
> quantity of labour and physical self-denial with which they
> can be obtained."
Getting way off-topic here; but there is an interesting rebuttal in
"Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely. He shows how the old
economic logic based on "rationality" is demonstrably wrong, leading to
absurdities like millions of people spending several dollars
a day on a cup of coffee that they could make at home for a dime. A good read,
IMO.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictably_Irrational
-- Randall
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