The model has been stretched and applied to things that it shouldn't be applied to. For example, discounting the future. Economists do something cost benefit analysis for climate change mitigation. And with any kind of positive discount rate, those costs of climate change disappear. So everything is sert o waited toward the immediate present. If you're an individual making a decision at a point and time, that makes sense,. but not if youare making decision on behalf of society.
On this episode, we meet with Ecological Economist, John Gowdy.
Gowdy explores the revolution in biology and its significance in society. How do different cultures manifest human nature? What role has agriculture, and specific crops, played in how societies developed?
Further, Gowdy discusses the relationship between capitalism, surplus, and The Superorganism. Does human agency matter to the Superorganism? What role do blind evolutionary mechanisms play in the development of our society?
About John Gowdy:
John M. Gowdy is Professor of Economics and Professor of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He is the recipient of the Herman Daly Award for contributions to ecological economics.
For Show Notes and Transcript visit: https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/14-john-gowdy