Science and Economics

Science and Economics
Science is the never-ending struggle to find truth.You may dismiss this statement as the rambling of an amateur philosopher,but it holds some practical value.Truth is a temporary phemomenon..It is limited by human communication systems,technology,and skill.For example,during the Dark Ages in Europe,the world was perceived as flat.This flatness was acceptable “asturth” because travel and human knowledge of celestial phenomena were so limited that no other comcept was needed.A family lived in a small area and confined its activity to a small region.This region appeared to be flat,so for all practical purposes,the earth was flat,too.When travel and exploration became widespread,and especially when ships were able to sail far out on the Atlantic,the vision of a flat earth had to change.Many boservations of stars and planets and of ships`movements at sea led to new principles and to a new truth.Those who were in the position to do so could exploit the new truth about the earth’s shape and turn it into riches.The Spanish,knowing they would not fall off the dege of a flat earth,found the New World and brought gold and silver back to Spain.
The situation has not changed much since the Dark Ages.Truth is still sought because it has value,and the scientific method remains the most systematic way of pursuing it.The method starts with a problem.Once the problem is well defined,information that might have an effect on it is gathered.The information is sorted and analyzed,and that which is useful is kept to be used as a basis for general principles.In the social sciences,the principles are often used to help formulate policies.The policies ultimately are aimed at removing the problem and improving people’s lives.
In the 1970s the United States economy began to experience an energy crisis.The problem was identified as a shortage of several kinds of fuel.Economists studying the problem gathered facts about prices,shipping,environmental considerations,alternative forms of fuel,and problems of international diplomacy related to fuel sources.These facts were analyzed to show the costs and the benefits associated with each alternative and a policy emerged:Keep thermostats turned down,build the Alaska pipeline,and continue to search for methods of harnessing solar power.The scientific method led from the problem of fuel scarcity to the understanding that fuel will continue to be scarce and then to a policy of fuel conservation.
In economics(and in the other social sciences),the pursuit of truth is slowed because human behavior cannot be subjected to the kinds of controlled experiments that are possible with white rats and guinea pigs.The economist must follow the steps in a search for new truths about economic behavior,but following them is frustrating and often leads up blind alleys.Nevertheless,problems,facts,principles,and policies must be considered in a systematic way.

科学和经济学
科学是永无止境的斗争中找到真理.你认为这个声明是一个业余哲学家海北,但一些具有实用价值.其实暂时phemomenon..通信系统是有限的人力、技术和技能.例如在欧洲的黑暗时代,被认为是世界单位.这是可以接受的曲线"Asturth"因为旅行和天体现象,人类知识有限,没有其他ComCept需要.住在一家小范围的活动,仅限于少数地区.这似乎是小区域,对所有实际的目的,是地球内也.当旅游探险盛行,尤其是船舶能远在大西洋航行,理想大地单位已改变.boservations、行星和恒星的许多船只在海上移动'原则,导致新的新事实.人的能力可以利用新的真相地球形状,使之成为财富.西班牙,他们不会知道的格桑掉落地球的一个单位,发现了新的世界和金银回西班牙.情况没有太大改变,因为黑暗时代.因为它仍寻求真理的价值,是最科学的方法,系统地进行.从问题的方法.问题是,一旦明确,资料可能会影响到它.资料整理与分析,将有利于保持作为基础的一般性原则.在社会科学的原则,常常用来帮助制定政策.政策最终目的是将问题和改善人民生活.在20世纪70年代,美国经济开始出现能源危机.这个问题被认为是好几种燃料短缺.经济学家研究问题收集事实物价、航运、环境因素、替代性燃料、外交和国际问题与燃料来源.分析这些事实表明,成本效益与每一个政策选择,出现:保持恒温的话,阿拉斯加的管道建设,继续寻求方法利用太阳能.科学方法导致燃料短缺的问题,即燃料仍将是有限的燃料,然后以保护政策.经济学(以及其他社会科学)、追求真理,是因为人类行为速度不能受到控制的各种试验,有可能是白老鼠和几内亚猪.经济学家必须遵循的步骤,寻找新的经济行为,对真理,但令人沮丧的是,在他们的领导往往盲目巷弄.但问题的事实、方针、政策,必须有系统地考虑.