Ross Gittins discusses a book by Matt Ridley called The Origins of Virtue. In it he shows that “trade predates the state.” Hardly a surprise to readers of this blog, but quite radical for the mainstream media. (Thanks to John Zube for bringing this article to my attention.) I have not yet read the Ridley book, but an Amazon.com review by Donald J. Boudreaux calls it “one of the finest challenges to Thomas Hobbes yet written.” Are there any blog readers who have read the book?
Source link: http://archive.mises.org/3541/puzzled-by-economics-ask-an-aborigine/
Puzzled by economics? Ask an Aborigine
Previous post: Playing God at the FDA
Next post: May Day at Catallarchy
{ 4 comments }
Ah, this must be “Saturday Ross”. Andrew Norton wrote about the “two Ross Gittins” at Catallaxy. Essentially on Saturdays he presents good articles like this one. On Wednesdays he’s notso hotso.
http://badanalysis.com/catallaxy/?p=807
Evidently Bruce Benson has read the book, as he makes several references to it in his paper The Spontaneous Evolution of Cyber Law:
Norms, Property Rights, Contracting, Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Without the State.
I have read and enjoyed the Matt Ridley Book ‘The origins of virtue’. A good, thought provoking read. Uses human nature and common sense, in this regard, rather politically incorrect, and thus very enyoyable.
For example, Chapter 2, The Division of Labour is subtitled; In which self sufficiency proves to be much over-rated.
Chapter 4, Telling Hawks from Doves is subtitled; In which developing a good reputation pays.
This book is logical, full of surprises, and I would recommend it.
I have also read the book, which was very enjoyable and enlightening. It also supports the recently published idea that trade is what makes us human, and is the difference between us an our less developed competitor humanoids.
Comments on this entry are closed.