People can jump higher and run faster, in part because of better technique, better training, and chemicals. But we just count the height or the speed.
Mathematics gets better in the sense that knowledge is accumulated & math can supposedly be segmented from everything else. Once we allow for interactions, everything can change. Suppose that recourse to computer generated proofs makes math better, but at the same time recource to computers makes matheticians less capable. The long run effect could be negative because now our metric has a more complex scale. Economics is better, in the sense that we have higher level tools, but training for such skills does indeed make for worse economists. Computer chips may be faster, but perhaps they require more energy to do the same work or create more pollution in their production. So what does better really mean? -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu michaelperelman.wordpress.com _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
