Economists As Bullying Witch Doctors

[Michael Perelman <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Esther-Mirjam Sent has a work in progress regarding how Herbert Simon
made an ass of himself in debating with progressive mathematicians, who
did not approve of Samuel Huntington joining the National Academy of
Sciences. She included two wonderful quotes from one of the
mathematicians, Neal Koblitz regarding economist misuse of mathematics.

Sent, Esther-Mirjam. 2008. "Mathematical Verbiage as a Witch Doctor's
Incantation? Herbert Simon vs. The Mathematics Community." unpub.

Koblitz, Neal. 1988. "A Tale of Three Equations: Or the Emperors Have
No Clothes." The Mathematical Intelligencer, 10: 1, pp. 4-10.

10: "Mathematical verbiage is being used like a witch doctor's
incantation, to install a sense of awe and reverence in the gullible
and poorly educated."

Koblitz, Neal (1981) "Mathematics as Propaganda." in Lynn Arthur Steen,
ed. Mathematics Tomorrow (New York: Springer-Verlag): pp. 111-120.

Koblitz (1981) had noted: "Mathematics can be used to mystify and
intimidate rather than to enlighten the public."



--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
michaelperelman.wordpress.com