Worshippers Of The Unseen Butterfingers (WOTUB), Critical Reflection ⇒ Making The Invisible Hand Visible Options Rating

[Jon Awbrey]

I have to go dig out my Adam Smith and my Max Weber … it may take the weekend, but I didn't want to lose this number …

J☼N

Dynamic List Of Resources �

Adam Smith

• Adam Smith (1759), The Theory of the Moral Sentiments.
• Adam Smith (1776), An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

Max Weber

• Max Weber (1904/1930), The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Talcott Parsons & Anthony Giddens (trans.), Unwin Hyman, London & Boston.

If you never read any other Social Theory, read Max Weber first. It was one of the great tragedies of the 20th Century that he died when he did, not only because the program of works he had begun would remain unfinished but also because the moderating influence he was exerting on his country's national and international affairs was suddenly dissipated.

Here is an excellent online resource on Weber �

• Elwell, Frank (1996), The Sociology of Max Weber.

[Jon Awbrey]

While I ponder bleak and bleary on how to kickstart yet another motiv epicycle of Le Dismal Séance, allow me to quote what PBS wrote on another thread, as I think he's said a big piece of it clearer than I ever will.

Don't try to sell "false equivalence" or "we are all to blame". This disaster was caused by those who made a fetish out of market solutions for all problems. Intellectually this is Milton Friedman, his heir Alan Greenspan, and "the Chicago Boys". When these policies are applied in foreign policy it was called "neo-liberalism". When applied at home it was so ubiquitous that it either didn't have a name or misappropriated the title "economics". They have centers of influence in both the Democratic and Republican party but overwhelmingly dominate the Republican party.

Going forward all nations will have mixed economies. The political economy that prevails in each respective nation will determine the exact mix and "economics" will have to purge itself of fairy tale faith if it is to survive as an academic discipline.