I haven't seen your book Michael. But on the negative side, capitalism certainly
steers scientific development in directions which have proven to be harmful. It has
also impeded development of science that could be beneficial. I don't doubt that it
is a double edged sword. I think that on balance it has been positive. I think it
could do better. But I also think that those who say there have been no benefits are
simply moving air to no purpose.
Rod
Michael Perelman wrote:
> Rod, in my Class Warfare book I discussed how capitalism impedes scientific
> development.
>
> Rod Hay wrote:
>
> > The incentives provided by capitalism certainly lead to an acceleration of
> > scientific development. Capitalism also provided a surplus which could finance
> > time away from more mundane economic activities. The advent of mass education
> > expanded the talent pool from which scientists could be drawn.
> >
> > Rod
> >
> > Brad De Long wrote:
> >
> > > > How much "progress" occurs
> > > >because of science? Do we attribute science to capitalism or can we
> > > >consider the scientific process to be "non-capitalist?"
> > >
> > > Good and hard questions. I think that you would have to distinguish between
> > > "science", "research", and "development" in order to answer them. And think
> > > hard about the fact that it was not in producing the heavy industrial goods
> > > of the second industrial revolution but in developing and producing
> > > twentieth century technologies and the goods they made possible that really
> > > existing socialism fell down.
> > >
> > > And you have to think about Lysenko...
> > >
> > > Brad DeLong
> >
> > --
> > Rod Hay
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > The History of Economic Thought Archive
> > http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/index.html
> > Batoche Books
> > http://home.golden.net/~rodhay
> > 52 Eby Street South
> > Kitchener, Ontario
> > N2G 3L1
> > Canada
>
> --
> Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> Chico, CA 95929
>
> Tel. 530-898-5321
> E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
Rod Hay
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
The History of Economic Thought Archive
http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/index.html
Batoche Books
http://home.golden.net/~rodhay
52 Eby Street South
Kitchener, Ontario
N2G 3L1
Canada
