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Quote by Kenneth E. Boulding

“Economic problems have no sharp edges. They shade off imperceptibly into politics, sociology, and ethics. Indeed, it is hardly an exaggeration to say that the ultimate answer to every economic problem lies in some other field.”

Quote by Kenneth E. Boulding

Author

Kenneth E. Boulding

Kenneth E. Boulding was a renowned economist, born on January 18, 1910, and passed away on March 18, 1993. His research in economics covered a wide range of fields, particularly in general systems theory, conflict theory, and peace studies. more

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“Reality, in its quantitative aspect, must be considered as a system of populations... The general study of the equilibria and dynamics of populations seems to have no name; but as it has probably reached its highest development in the biological study known as 'ecology,' this name may well be given to it.”

Wells May Reality Seems Names Given Known Study Development Highest Aspect Population Ecology Equilibrium Dynamics

Author:Kenneth E. Boulding

“In calling society an ecological system we are not merely using an analogy; society is an example of the general concept of an "ecosystem" that is, an ecological system of which biological systems - forests, fields, swamps - are other examples.”

Example Fields Calling Concepts Forests Ecological Analogies Ecosystems Swamps

Author:Kenneth E. Boulding

“If a totally new image is to come into being however, there must be sensitivity to internal messages, the image itself must be sensitive to change, must be unstable, and it must include a value image which places high value on trials, experiments, and the trying of new things.”

Ifs Trying Values Messages Trials Experiments Sensitive Internals New Things Sensitivity Unstable

Author:Kenneth E. Boulding

“There is something, however humble, which can properly be called skill among those who recognise themselves as economists.”

Skills Humble Economist Recognise

Author:Kenneth E. Boulding

“[The notion of equilibrium] is a notion which can be employed usefully in varying degrees of looseness. It is an absolutely indispensable part of the toolbag of the economist and one which he can often contribute usefully to other sciences which are occasionally apt to get lost in the trackless exfoliations of purely dynamic systems.”

Lost Degrees Notion Indispensable Economist Employed Equilibrium Looseness

Author:Kenneth E. Boulding

“In view of the importance of philanthropy in our society, it is surprising that so little attention has been given to it by economic or social theorists. In economic theory, especially, the subject is almost completely ignored. This is not, I think, because economists regard mankind as basically selfish or even because economic man is supposed to act only in his self-interest; it is rather because economics has essentially grown up around the phenomenon of exchange and its theoretical structure rests heavily on this process.”

“I know that some books and some writers, you can pretty much draw a square around it and say, 'Nobody under 40,' or 'Nobody under 25.' With my books, it always has been, and continues to be, spread right across the board, and I think the operative term is 'reader.'”

Thinking Knows Has Beens Book Term Reader Draws Spread Boards Squares

Author:Margaret Atwood

“A somewhat casual observer from outer space might well deduce that the course of evolution in this planet had produced a species of large four-wheeled bugs with detachable brains; peculiar animals which rested when they sent their brains away from them but performed in rather predictable manner when their brains were recalled.”

Wells Might Courses Space Animal Brain Four Planets Evolution Species Peculiar Observers Bugs Casual Predictable Outer Space

Author:Kenneth E. Boulding

“The concept of need is often looked upon rather unfavorably by economists, in contrast with the concept of demand. Both, however, have their own strengths and weaknesses. The need concept is criticized as being too mechanical, as denying the autonomy and individuality of the human person, and as implying that the human being is a machine which "needs" fuel in the shape of food, engine dope in the shape of medicine, and spare parts provided by the surgeon.”

“It [knowledge] is clearly related to information, which we can now measure; and an economist especially is tempted to regard knowledge as a kind of capital structure, corresponding to information as an income flow. Knowledge, that is to say, is some kind of improbable structure or stock made up essentially of patterns - that is, improbable arrangements, and the more improbable the arrangements, we might suppose, the more knowledge there is.”

Kind Made Might Information Flow Regard Structure Patterns Income Related Arrangements Economist Tempted Improbable Corresponding More Knowledge

Author:Kenneth E. Boulding