Sunday, January 27, 2013

Hermeneutics Is An Attack On Subjectivism.

Empiricism is hermeneutics and hermeneutics is empiricism! I will explain.

The empiricist needs data in some form to serve as the basis for proof of the specific hypothesis. In the natural sciences the data collected paints a clear picture and if it is done properly it can be repeated over and over again. This provides both a proof of and a test for the hypothesis. In the human sciences this is not what happens. The datum collected is nothing more than a random historical event captured at a specific point in time. It may or may not ever be repeated again plus the circumstances can never again be the same. Humans are constantly changing!

Well then, what can an empiricist do with the data collected that was supposedly designed to capture information about a human? Since it cannot possibly represent the human reality - which is subjective - the only other option is to interpret! It is clear then that empiricism in the human sciences is hermeneutics.

Now for the other part of the statement "Empiricism is hermeneutics and hermeneutics is empiricism!" and the accompanying explanation. In the human sciences, such as praxeology and more specifically economics, the only truly scientific methodology is subjectivism. There is no middle ground. Someone cannot come along and say that subjectivism is the proper methodology without then fully recognizing that humans make subjective decisions using their reasoning powers. If someone claims that people are irrational (some humans do have mental illnesses which may cause irrationality at least for short periods of time) then this is an attack on subjectivism.

Subjectivism fully recognizes that natural law can be used to describe the characteristics that are unique to human beings, universally. There is a logical structure that all humans operate within. For example, humans are constrained by their limited knowledge of the future. Another example - one which is foundational - is that humans use reason. For someone to say that people make irrational decisions is a clear attack on subjectivism.

Why would someone want to undermine the methodology of subjectivism? It is obvious why an empiricist would have such a goal. Subjectivism exposes the fallacies of using empiricism in the human sciences (age-old institutions are then in jeopardy). But why would an individual want to undermine the methodology of subjectivism?

If someone claims that people make irrational decisions then it creates a niche for someone to fill as the ultimate judge of what is rational and what is not. Someone may be ego-driven enough to want that privilege but just imagine the horrors. This hermeneutist takes away the right of subjectiveness for anyone who does not please this judge! How ironic it would be if such a person would claim to be a friend of liberty and justice! Ultimately this hermeneutist will make the empirical decision: "Are you rational (+) or are you irrational (-)?" and it is this binary code that fits empiricism but in no way, shape or form does it fit subjectivism.

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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Can Economic Equilibrium Appear Either As Latent Or Active?

There are times when economic equilibrium is invisible. Those who do not know about economic equilibrium may therefore be oblivious of its existence. Those who know it exists probably are just rest assured that it is always there, always operating.

There are many reasons why economic equilibrium may appear latent but I think there are two main reasons. When the economy is not far from its balanced path the counterbalancing force of equilibrium is not very great and so the pressures exerted on the economy are minor. To those alive during that time the force of economic equilibrium may appear latent.

Another time when it may appear latent is when the State intervention is very great and its control over information (propaganda) paints a false picture. Those unaware of economic equilibrium are easily fooled and those aware of economic equilibrium may not realize how extremely far from the balanced path the economy is and so they may misjudge the consequences to come. Those who are aware of economic equilibrium have a duty to cut through the propaganda and educate others about the consequences of interventionism.

Another point of interest with regards economic equilibrium is the significance of the change of appearance of economic equilibrium from latent to active. As I mentioned, at times it appears latent because of a relatively balanced economy and that is when the concept of laissez-faire fits well as a descriptive term. But laissez-faire is not a strong enough term to override the State, either as an argument or as an opposition force. Consequently once we entered the era of nation-building the State was able to embark on potent measures that disrupted economic equilibrium. Of course the State then uses its propaganda to hide these disruptions.

Here is where the appearance of active economic equilibrium not only becomes crucial but its reality will make its presence known. Think of a pendulum. It can be pushed so far but at some point the forces are so great that it cannot be prevented from returning to its entropy point. The reason the economic equilibrium is active is because there is no moral authority for any of the economic interventionism and the power of human action, in response, purges the corruption.

Those who are aware of the appearance of active economic equilibrium forces have a duty to educate others about the inevitable consequences of interventionism and about the complete lack of moral authority for any economic intervention. This is what a true and powerful laissez-faire concept like the divine economy theory has to offer.

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