Posted by
Andrews on Sunday, December 27, 2009 12:57:57 PM
As my regular readers know, I find great significance in the subjective value theory of economics. Not only do I find it the best route to accurately understanding economic theory, but it also provides a refutation to those who claim they can scientifically manage the economy ("
The Limits of "Scientific" Management", "
Greed Versus Evil", "
Bad Economics Part 8", "
Bad Economics Part 7", "
The Inherent Disappointment of Authoritarianism", "
The Rubber Yardstick").
So, you can imagine my dismay when my four year old and I had the following conversation:
Julian, my son: You can eat this. (Hands me a cookie.)
Me: No thank you. I'm not very hungry.
Julian: How hungry are you? Zero?
Me: Yes, not hungry at all.
Julian: Zero?
Me: Almost zero.
Julian: What number?
Me: You can't really put a number on hunger, can you? I mean, how hungry are you now?
Julian: (Without hesitation) Twenty.
Me: You just made that up, though.
Julian: No, I didn't.
I am not sure if this is an example of his wicked little preschool sense of humor, or if I am truly going to be stuck with a son who believe in quantifying the unquantifiable. If the latter, it must be some sort of karmic retribution, though what I could have done to earn it is beyond me...