I agree with almost everything. I often discuss with students the issue of the study of patterns vs. study of particular events when discussing the history of experimental economics. I do not agree with one thing. You doing calculations in your head do deserve public funding. Well, maybe you should think about social science and genetics, but mathematicians solving non-practical problems should continue doing that, as do scholars of Assyrian texts or what have you.
History as mind furniture
It took me a while to find Kaleberg's comment over at Noah's. It's here:
https://noahpinion.substack.com/p/on-the-wisdom-of-the-historians/comment/8663079
I agree with almost everything. I often discuss with students the issue of the study of patterns vs. study of particular events when discussing the history of experimental economics. I do not agree with one thing. You doing calculations in your head do deserve public funding. Well, maybe you should think about social science and genetics, but mathematicians solving non-practical problems should continue doing that, as do scholars of Assyrian texts or what have you.
Smith not Feldman