Comments on: The Calculus of Prostitution http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:17:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Robin Hanson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26313 Robin Hanson Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:37:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26313 Mark, fair enough, thanks for the clarification. Mark, fair enough, thanks for the clarification.

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26323 Mark Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:19:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26323 Robin Hanson - The last line is only sarcastic in the sense that I'm obviously not going to switch fields. I was merely being lightly humorous in suggesting that studying hookers sounds a little more fun to a layperson than studying the fundamental properties of matter. As a scientist, I generally think that mathematics is the only way to get specific predictions from a theory. Many commenters seem to have taken the post as ignition to light a waiting fuse of discontent with the way economists and others use mathematics. I'm afraid the blame for this general perception doesn't lie with me. Many others have taken issue with the details of how this particular equation is constructed. If you disagree with them, feel free to correct them. Robin Hanson - The last line is only sarcastic in the sense that I’m obviously not going to switch fields. I was merely being lightly humorous in suggesting that studying hookers sounds a little more fun to a layperson than studying the fundamental properties of matter.

As a scientist, I generally think that mathematics is the only way to get specific predictions from a theory.

Many commenters seem to have taken the post as ignition to light a waiting fuse of discontent with the way economists and others use mathematics. I’m afraid the blame for this general perception doesn’t lie with me. Many others have taken issue with the details of how this particular equation is constructed. If you disagree with them, feel free to correct them.

]]> By: Robin Hanson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26305 Robin Hanson Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:25:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26305 Mark, I took your post as critical from the apparent sarcasm of your last sentence, and since most comments here seems to have interpreted your post as critical, none of which you corrected. If your position is otherwise, feel free to correct us all. Mark, I took your post as critical from the apparent sarcasm of your last sentence, and since most comments here seems to have interpreted your post as critical, none of which you corrected. If your position is otherwise, feel free to correct us all.

]]> By: Mark http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26322 Mark Sat, 31 Mar 2007 03:43:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26322 Robin Hanson - what on earth makes you think I find the idea ludicrous? Robin Hanson - what on earth makes you think I find the idea ludicrous?

]]> By: Robin Hanson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26314 Robin Hanson Sat, 31 Mar 2007 02:20:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26314 Let me get this straight: The mere fact that someone would use math to model a theory of prostitution seems ludicrous to you? And what exactly is your preferred way to express precise theories about prostitution? Is it the very idea of having theories on this topic that offends you? Or the idea of being precise about them? Let me get this straight: The mere fact that someone would use math to model a theory of prostitution seems ludicrous to you? And what exactly is your preferred way to express precise theories about prostitution? Is it the very idea of having theories on this topic that offends you? Or the idea of being precise about them?

]]> By: mandt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26306 mandt Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:34:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26306 "it is short hand for rate of change," Absolutely RU/RF=5. Who needs C “it is short hand for rate of change,” Absolutely RU/RF=5. Who needs C

]]> By: Bodhidharma http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26312 Bodhidharma Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:34:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26312 When will people learn that mathematics is just an exact *language*? It is a formal language (for lazy people who like shortcuts ;)) and can be used to express many things - what is expressed doesn't have to be true. Just because something is formulated in mathematical terms doesn't make it true! When will people learn that mathematics is just an exact *language*? It is a formal language (for lazy people who like shortcuts ;)) and can be used to express many things - what is expressed doesn’t have to be true. Just because something is formulated in mathematical terms doesn’t make it true!

]]> By: Chris Tunnell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26303 Chris Tunnell Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:01:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26303 Talk about nit-picky. 1) This is a fitted model 2) Determining a good model to fit involves understanding symmetries of the problem 3) Extrapolating predictions from the model yields something interesting The thoroughness of a model only becomes important when faced with wrong or boring predictions from the model. Unless you're in maths, hand-waving is fine until your wrong or boring. Maybe I'm missing something... Talk about nit-picky.

1) This is a fitted model
2) Determining a good model to fit involves understanding symmetries of the problem
3) Extrapolating predictions from the model yields something interesting

The thoroughness of a model only becomes important when faced with wrong or boring predictions from the model. Unless you’re in maths, hand-waving is fine until your wrong or boring.

Maybe I’m missing something…

]]> By: Sacha http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26304 Sacha Tue, 20 Mar 2007 10:44:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26304 On the topic of the post, it often seems to be true that people working in one field wonder about the things that people work at in other fields. On the topic of the post, it often seems to be true that people working in one field wonder about the things that people work at in other fields.

]]> By: hueoblue http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26320 hueoblue Tue, 20 Mar 2007 03:27:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2007/03/17/the-calculus-of-prostitution/#comment-26320 Accusing economists of not recognizing limited resources is silly, There are many problems in economics but that isn't one of them. The most obvious limited resource is land. Of course land and natural resource economists recognize that there is only so much land to till, or ore in the mine. It would be absurd not to. Accusing economists of not recognizing limited resources is silly, There are many problems in economics but that isn’t one of them. The most obvious limited resource is land. Of course land and natural resource economists recognize that there is only so much land to till, or ore in the mine. It would be absurd not to.

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