Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer Back to Basics Series: Homo Economicus Must Die (with Samuel Bowles)
Sep 2, 2025
Samuel Bowles, an economist and Professor Emeritus, challenges the traditional view of humans as solely rational, self-interested beings. He argues for a more nuanced understanding of human behavior that embraces cooperation and ethics over greed. Bowles highlights the need to abandon the flawed 'homo economicus' model, showcasing how emotions and moral considerations play a crucial role in decision-making. The discussion also touches on economic inequality and the complexities of language in shaping perceptions of workers, pushing for a reevaluation of policies to create a fairer society.
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Spock Versus Kirk Tomato Example
- The hosts use Spock and Captain Kirk to contrast hyperlogic and ordinary decision-making.
- The grocery-store tomato example illustrates humans use heuristics, emotion, and context, not exhaustive calculations.
Rational-Choice Model Is Only Partial
- Homo economicus assumes people maximize expected utility and calculate probabilities for futures when making choices.
- Samuel Bowles argues this model fits some high-stakes decisions but not vast everyday behavior driven by habits and visceral reactions.
People Are Not Purely Self-Interested
- Homo economicus assumes people only care about themselves and treat others instrumentally.
- Bowles cites experiments and everyday examples proving people are often other-regarding and violate pure selfishness.
