Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Adam Smith explains WWI

I know I'm really reaching my students when they come up with brilliant insights like this one in their papers:

"While such a concept as interdependence, defined as a mutual dependence in which there are reciprocal costly effects of transactions but not necessarily a mutual benefit, was strongly supported by many political leaders and American presidents, it was a concept that was also believed by Adam Smith to contribute to the outbreak of World War I."

I think my work here is done.

4 comments:

albeo said...

you're a damn good teacher I must say...

FKJ said...

care to explain the bite and stinking hangover of a few days ago?

LeDuc said...

You shouldn't be so hard on yourself: isn't it true that a majority of US high school students now believe the Second World War was fought between the US and Germany on one side, and Russia (sic) on the other? If nothing else, you have to admit that's an intellectually audacious reinterpretation of history.

Tom said...

Points for creativity, certainly.

As per biting/hangover, see SXG.