The two Basic Assumptions of Classical Political Economy are: "Man's desires are unlimited."
"Man seeks to satisfy his desires with the least exertion." The first assumption explains why Man exerts, the second explains why there is progress. (For the sake of political correctness, I use 'People' in my courses rather than Man!) Your point is not well taken. It is a quibble. Getting a greater return for less exertion is the hallmark of economic progress. Doing something this way rather than that way is the way we have hauled ourselves up from our beginnings. So, you invest some exertion in seeking in order to save a lot more exertion later. How do I know this Assumption is valid? Because this is the way you and I behave. Harry -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sandwichman Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 1:52 PM To: RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION, EDUCATION Subject: Re: [Futurework] Conservative take: EU A coalition of irresponsibility "People seek to satisfy their desires with the least exertion." Except the phrase is inherently contradictory. Seek is more exertion than not seek. On 5/22/10, Harry Pollard <[email protected]> wrote: > "People seek to satisfy their desires with the least exertion." > > --- Or how Classical Economics begin. > > Harry > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve > Kurtz > Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 6:50 AM > To: Futurework > Subject: [Futurework] Conservative take: EU A coalition of > irresponsibility > > There is a predisposition to conserve calories - offload work/effort > onto machines, draft animals, other people. Survival and reproduction > favored conserving extra food, fuel, water (yes, in caves) and saving > ones energy/strength. Those who had insufficient reserves had > decreased chances of passing genes fwd. As surpluses of food from > agriculture permitted leisure, the game changed. The hierarchy of > hunter/protector did (as Chris > thinks) branch out into warlords, landlords, traders, politicians... > > ======================================= > Please: this is not my exact position. It is a conservative pundit. > > Steve > > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/14/AR2010 > 051404 > 279.html > > > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > > > > _______________________________________________ > Futurework mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework > -- Sandwichman _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] https://lists.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework _______________________________________________ Futurework mailing list [email protected] https://lists.uwaterloo.ca/mailman/listinfo/futurework
