There are definitely plenty of economist who sleep together science fiction — Paul Krugmancomes to mind immediately . But economics could still benefit from more attention to the genre , argues economist Ha - Joon Chang from Cambridge University . But Chang ’s reasons for recommending SF might be a bit surprising .
Rather than advance SF as a mode to make economics more focussed on scientific and technological innovation , or a way to add more speculation about the future tense , Chang actually thinks that SF stories will make economists less kneejerk in their optimism about science .
TheTimes Higher Education Supplementexplains :
On one level , said Dr Chang , much economic intellection could best be seen as “ scientific discipline fabrication ” . It claimed to be “ science ” , but ignored political and ethical factors and relied on such simplified thought of the person , the firm and the market that its analyses were largely “ fable ” .
Equally problematic , in his perspective , is the notion of many economists ( and especially neoclassical economists ) that march on in science and engineering science could solve near all our trouble – and that the correct incentives alone will enable us to undertake challenges such as water shortages and climate alteration . It is here , he said , that they would do well to take a looking at at scientific discipline fiction .
In fact , science fiction is full of worlds where the engineering is far in progression of our own , but there are unexpected problems — and item-by-item mistakes ca n’t be discounted as a part of that , says Chang . “ skill fable can help us to reconsider our assumptions about the economy and society , ” according to the THES summary of Chang ’s talk . “ Kurt Vonnegut ’s Player Piano and Aldous Huxley ’s Brave New World can teach us about the note value of body of work and the dangers of consumerism , even in societies where everybody has their introductory motivation satisfied . ”
[ viaTimes Higher Education Supplement ]
Aldous HuxleyBooksBrave New Worldkurt vonnegut
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