Date:     Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Subject: Empower XII - Opinions

David Brooks, on November 15, 2010, posted an anti-science column entitled, "The Two Cultures," in which he wrote:

Many of the psychologists, artists and moral philosophers I know are liberal, so it seems strange that American liberalism should adopt an economic philosophy that excludes psychology, emotion and morality.

Yet that is what has happened. The economic approach embraced by the most prominent liberals over the past few years is mostly mechanical. The economy is treated like a big machine; the people in it like rational, utility maximizing cogs. The performance of the economic machine can be predicted with quantitative macroeconomic models.

These models can be used to make highly specific projections. If the government borrows $1 and then spends it, it will produce $1.50 worth of economic activity. If the government spends $800 billion on a stimulus package, that will produce 3.5 million in new jobs.

Everything is rigorous. Everything is science. 

Obviously, Mr. Brooks fails to understand the meaning of science.

It is all about opinions

The human brain is a data collection system that processes data and formulates opinions -- aside from managing the human body, formulating an opinion is all that the human brain can do. I want to emphasize that statement -- formulate/generate/create an opinion -- NOT facts and NOT information -- an opinion about all manner of things, but still an opinion, a very biased opinion...

The Scientific process.

Step 1 - Collect data
Step 2 - Formulate an hypothesis
Step 6 - Test the hypothesis.

The Scientific Process is normally restricted to natural phenomena that can be tested by rigid procedures; however, many other areas have been incorporating the concepts to support their developments -- the field of economics being a prominent example.

It is high time to acknowledge a generalized process that can be used to explain other areas of human endeavor.

The Common Sense Process

Step 0 - Establish Purpose
Step 1 - Collect Data
Step 2 - Formulate an Opinion
Step 3 - Validate the Opinion
Step 4 - Sell the opinion

The human brain is a wonderful device (organ): however, it is not perfect -- Just as an hypotheses needs testing along with the assumed editing, an opinion needs validation and editing. Now, you know that -- you don't write a book without an editor (AKA: validation). Why post a blog without some kind of validation??

Well that is what comments should be all about -- emphasizing the word, "should."  Validating an opinion is a cooperative process -- a comparing of opinions in an attempt to develop the best opinion. It is NOT a competition, with winners and losers.

Mr. Brooks column is a prime example of a failure in the system -- we are in "competitive mode" -- we are talking past each other, as opposed to talking with each other.

To be continued (I hope)

BTW, in hopes of exciting some discussion I am posting this page on the following web sites.
http://ifihadmyway.com
http://nationalcomputerassociation.com
I don't provide for comments -- I do provide an e-mail address!! (Please put a [MYWAY] in your title to get my attention)

Thanks for your time,

Doug Skoglund - skoglund@pdmsb.com

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