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dxbydt · 2011-08-09 · Original thread
There's a beautiful, beautifully argued book by Martin Gardner ( http://www.amazon.com/Whys-Philosophical-Scrivener-Martin-Ga... ). There are 2 chapters on economics in that book, one on free market capitalism ( "why i'm not a smithian" ), one on i guess you could call it lite-obamaism ( "why i'm not a marxist" ).

Gardner rejects both. He works out some math behind their assumptions. Then states his moral objections to both of them. I used to think Martin Gardner was a giant puzzle-master with super high IQ. After reading that book, I discovered a thinking, anxious, doubtful, religious, deeply charitable & generous human being. To date, it remains my favorite Gardner book. Do check it out, I think you'll love it. The rest of the book documents Gardner's careful rejection of all of the popular philosophies ( solipsism, anarchism, polytheism, monotheism, relativism, pantheism, determinism etc. ). Its a monumental piece of work.

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