problem of production

8/6/2019 Problem of Production

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Williams 2 Economic growth, which viewed from the point of view of economics, physics,

chemistry and technology, has no discernible limit, must necessarily run into decisive

bottlenecks when viewed from the point of view of the environmental sciences.

6. What does he mean ³science will find a way out´ and why does he think it is important?

He means that people are content with continuing to exploit the environment because

they are mollified by the false belief that ³science will find a way out,´ but he doesn¶t seem to

think that¶s possible unless there is a change in the direction of scientific effort.

7. What does he mean, ³Every increase of needs tends to increase one¶s dependence´ (p. 20)?

Why does he think this? Is it true? Why does he think it is important?

He means thatt he expansion of needs is the antithesis of wisdom. That we can only

become less dependent on abusing our natural capital by having less need for it. If we need less

and lead more simple, less consuming and destructive lifestyles, we will no longer be dependent

on forces we cannot control, i.e., the shrinking of our capital.

8. What is the ³second requirement´ (p. 22)? Requirement for what? How many others are there?

How does he develop this list?

The second requirement is suitability for small-scale application. It is a requirement for a

revolution in technology and he develops the list by giving requirements for new methods and

equipment. Small scale operations are always less likely to be harmful to the environment.

9. What does he think are ³the real causes of war´ (p. 24)? As opposed to what fake causes of

war? Why does he think this?

The real causes of war are that man is not wise, and without wisdom he is doomed to

building a self-destructive monster economy, and because man seeks ³fantastic satisfaction,´

gaining wealth, power, or sport, instead of moving toward saintliness.

10. What does he mean by ³fragmentary´ (p. 28)? How so? Do you agree? Is this problem

soluble?



Williams 3 He claims that the judgment of economics is fragmentary. Fragmentary by definition

means consisting of small, disconnected parts. This is because we as a society can hold onto

things that are uneconomical for un-economic reasons, such as social, aesthetic, moral, or

political. Also, we put un-economical emphasis on some things over others

11. How is ³the point of view of the employer´ different from ³the Buddhist point of view´ (p.

38)? How does this explain what he means by ³Buddhist economics´ (p. 37)?

The point of view of the employer is to have output with the employees. This coming

from the Buddhist means it has greater concern with goods than with the people. This, according

to Buddhist economics, makes the work seem meaningless and boring.

12. What does he mean ³this is standing the truth on its head´ (p. 40)? What is ³this´ in that

sentence? What is the truth, does he think?

³This´ is considering goods as more important than people and consumption as more

important than creative activity because the emphasis of the work has shifted from human to

subhuman. He calls this a surrender to the force of evil.

13. What does he think are ³the destructive effects of these technological developments´ (p. 52)?

He thinks constantly uprooting and moving from place to place along the frontier,

especially in a larger country, is a destructive effect. This is because it results in a µdual society¶

without any inner cohesion because people who constantly change environments are completely

dependent on and only have knowledge of themselves, and have no attachment to any type of

community.

problem of production

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