Teaching.
We spoke about the failings of economics in class today.
An opinion that was voiced was that economics is too positive. We do not have very much normative views on economics.
Positive views of economics concerns itself with what is. It is usually empirically verifiable and generally regarded as economic knowledge or truths. Concerning itself with what is, it is easier to deal with. What is unemployment? What is inflation? What is the absolute poverty line?
Normative views of economics concerns itself with what ought to be. It is value laden, judgment based on what is right or what should be right and wrong. It makes a decision or a stand, it is about people. Do you understand that an unemployed person is not a statistic? Should we not only resort to unemployment under dire circumstances?
Economics succeeded so well because we focused on the positive branch of economics. We do not manage normative values. One reason for that is that positive economics is far easier to deal with than normative. There is less room for discussion, no values to be discussed.
Yet is that what economics is about? Is it all about the numbers? The rationality of people, the desire to do better? Is it all about what that we want, the best for ourselves without regard to other things in life like values, desires and well being? Do we consider relationships as the fundamental building block of life?
I think there is a deeper struggle at hand. Underlying all these is the struggle, what can we teach? Can we teach values? Is there a right and wrong? Are values lost in today's world? Are there values? Is everything in life about knowledge?
Teachers teach students not to pass exams, or even to have an education, but we teach the students to become adults. Teaching is not just in the classroom; teaching is about life impartation. It begins when we are old and we start to think. It continues when we speak our thoughts. It is shown by the lives we live. It ends when we say, it is finished. Teaching is about life impartation. We need to teach our kids to live lives worth living.
Everyone is a teacher. The difference is, teaching can also be a profession. Ask yourself, what do you want to teach? How to make the right decision? Or mere head knowledge.
An opinion that was voiced was that economics is too positive. We do not have very much normative views on economics.
Positive views of economics concerns itself with what is. It is usually empirically verifiable and generally regarded as economic knowledge or truths. Concerning itself with what is, it is easier to deal with. What is unemployment? What is inflation? What is the absolute poverty line?
Normative views of economics concerns itself with what ought to be. It is value laden, judgment based on what is right or what should be right and wrong. It makes a decision or a stand, it is about people. Do you understand that an unemployed person is not a statistic? Should we not only resort to unemployment under dire circumstances?
Economics succeeded so well because we focused on the positive branch of economics. We do not manage normative values. One reason for that is that positive economics is far easier to deal with than normative. There is less room for discussion, no values to be discussed.
Yet is that what economics is about? Is it all about the numbers? The rationality of people, the desire to do better? Is it all about what that we want, the best for ourselves without regard to other things in life like values, desires and well being? Do we consider relationships as the fundamental building block of life?
I think there is a deeper struggle at hand. Underlying all these is the struggle, what can we teach? Can we teach values? Is there a right and wrong? Are values lost in today's world? Are there values? Is everything in life about knowledge?
Teachers teach students not to pass exams, or even to have an education, but we teach the students to become adults. Teaching is not just in the classroom; teaching is about life impartation. It begins when we are old and we start to think. It continues when we speak our thoughts. It is shown by the lives we live. It ends when we say, it is finished. Teaching is about life impartation. We need to teach our kids to live lives worth living.
Everyone is a teacher. The difference is, teaching can also be a profession. Ask yourself, what do you want to teach? How to make the right decision? Or mere head knowledge.
posted by W | Tuesday, September 02, 2008
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