tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046071861494986299.post4408809846107692839..comments2023-08-26T05:08:54.898-07:00Comments on Magic, maths and money: Is finance guided by good science or convincing magic?Tim Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06952723922503939504noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046071861494986299.post-55944598066177718992013-12-24T12:23:40.996-08:002013-12-24T12:23:40.996-08:00I was in the LSE bookshop the other day, you know ...I was in the LSE bookshop the other day, you know how sometimes a book can just pop out at you? A General Theory of Magic did that to me. <br /><br />After seeing it, it then appeared in my reading (in David Graeber's 'Toward an anthropological theory of value') and now on your blog. Jung would have something to say about that !<br /><br />I thoroughly recommend Graeber's book btw, I think its his best work - better than Debt. I know you don't see eye-to-eye with him on somethings, but Graeber thinks the notion of visibility and invisibility is very important for money and value. He discusses the ideas of the Marc Shell in respect of the Myth of the Ring of Gyges (putting it in anthropological context) as well as the issues of transparency and obfuscation as they relate to magic.<br /><br />He also makes the point that he, and many anthropologists, tend to be struck by how the folks they study seem to both believe and not believe in magic at the same time. They can seem skeptical and rational about it one minute, but believe in it and take action according to it the next. This seems relevant to some of the reports on financial problems you mention.<br /><br />Have a magical Christmas :o)<br /><br /><br />MBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18404729484594219550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046071861494986299.post-5845107300981042662013-12-19T13:22:11.830-08:002013-12-19T13:22:11.830-08:00Maybe I should have said "accessible" ra...Maybe I should have said "accessible" rather than interesting. To be honest I did not really understand the argument.Tim Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06952723922503939504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3046071861494986299.post-75164026740435002932013-12-19T11:09:47.203-08:002013-12-19T11:09:47.203-08:00The substance of my piece wasn't really intend...The substance of my piece wasn't really intended to be a mathematician, so it's little surprise that it didn't do a very good job as one.Noah Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09093917601641588575noreply@blogger.com