Cries of a Dismal Scientist
In the early 1800’s Malthus, anEnglish politician-economist declared that the population growth rate would soon exceed the rate at which food was produced and that people would starve to death. Carlyle, an English historian, remarked on Malthus’ work forever labeling economics a “dismal science.”
Today I found out what that means. I’m working on a thesis for the Applied Mathematics department at the University of Akron. The thesis is in a tight conjuction with the economics department and focuses on the idea of economic development by using some math models that none of my online readers would understand so I will glaze over. Anyway, I turned in a very rough draft to be reviewed (and by reviewed, I mean destroyed, but such is the nature of academia), and upon the return of the document I was casually labeled an “academic liberal.” This label was due to my excessive use of words like, “altruistic, philanthropic, and giving.”
We spent the remainder of the meeting discussing the nature of economics and economic articles, of how academic fact must be presented unbiased as to allow the audience to choose what to do with the information given. How motives must never be assumed, and how some motives if assumed will cause your paper to be disregarded. The conversation then progressed to the arena of “selfish” motives and how no person is free of them in any decision they undertake. And although there were shadows of truth to what was said, I was still taken aback.
*Now I do want to add this addendum that my professors are simply doing there jobs and at that matter doing it very well, preparing me for another level of academia and preparing my thesis for publication. My rant is not against my professors ( I actually respect and admire them greatly) rather this rant is aimed at “the man behind the machine.” *
I think I would have changed my major, dropped my thesis, moved onto something else, if not for the work of E. F. Schumacher, an English economist who championed ideas like the dignity of the workplace and worker and environmentalism, wrote the book Small is Beautiful, and condemned such morally faulty economic assumptions as natural avarice and greed.
I read his book this summer and his understanding of the place of economics in the world immediately freed me from the study of the dismal science into a study of something beautiful.
Hmm, not quite sure if this post has an actual conclusion or main point; it had just been so long since I had come face to face with “the man behind the machine” that I had forgotten what it/he (i know its a stupid analogy for a social norm that people can’t accurately describe) actually looked like, and upon my recent thesis meeting, I thought it appropriate to rehash my thoughts in the form of a blog…
grace and peace
Autumn Musings
Maybe it’s because my birthday is in Fall; maybe it’s because I love Thanksgiving and gourging myself on delicious meals; or maybe it’s because I have a seasonal craving for all things pumpkin flavored (lattes, waffles, drinks). Regardless, I greatly enjoy autumn weather. I enjoy walking across campus with a brisk chill against my neck and 2-4 layers of clothing shielding me from the misty grey soup that is Akron in the Fall.
Or maybe because I feel that the season is just so honest. The morning sky, as I walked to my Starbucks office hour (some students feel this a much more neutral place to meet then the math department…) was a battle of blue and grey. To my left was a black sky, foreboding and dismal; then to my right, the sun admidst white clouds and sky blue blankets. And at the forefront of this atmospheric canvas was a fully-formed rainbow, cresting from Akron’s polymer building to somewhere in the once booming, now forlorn and empty industry area, shining in full ROY-G-BIV glory.
so “honest?” Yes, it’s as if the sky has nothing to hide in the Fall; it shows itself for what it is: a season in conflict. The warmth of summer passing and the imminent cold of winter pressing in, the sky is a turmoil of decision and change.
As am I. With college coming to a close and life pressing in, I “feel” for the Autumn sky.
grace and peace
On Food and Faith
If you’ve ever read a C.S. Lewis book, you may recall that he has this remarkable ability to fill page after page with description of food. I literally salivated while reading the Chronicles of Narnia; there would be times when his description of food was just so rich that I would in turn physically hunger.
And although I may be reading into the literary elements here, I think Lewis does this because he genuinely loves food, and he presumes that his audience loves food as well. And this is true, who doesn’t love food? (Obviously we could find some counter-examples if we want to but on the whole…)
So what about the teachings of Christ, as I read the Bible I find time and time again, “food language” used to depict spiritual elements of faith and life. I spent this morning and afternoon in a repentant fast, in an effort to remind myself of what to truly hunger for. And I don’t post this for my glory, rather as an act of edification for those of you that may read this.
The day started like any other, I just didn’t eat breakfast. I met up with my old landlord to discuss security deposits, went to the Student Union, taught my class, served my office hour, then ran some errands. Throughout the day pangs of hunger would seize me reminding me that I was empty. Fantasies of food would frolic into my mind as I walked to and fro around campus. I was hungry.
And I thought of the Beatitudes, “blessed our those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.” I tried to convince my heart to hunger for God, and I prayed God’s intercession on my own efforts.
How often do I (we) truly hunger for God? I missed two meals today, and now I have a headache and a grumbling stomach. Do I long for His presence as much as I do my literal daily bread?
I plan on breaking my fast at 3pm (18 minutes from now!). I plan on cooking some linguine noodles in a rich sauce from a local farm, along with cucumbers and some mozzarella cheese. Figured I’d do things right.
Because we all know the phenomenon of hunger, that the hungrier we are the better things taste. I can vividly recall receiving the same meal twice during a Boy Scout canoe trip, once at the beginning of the trip once at the end: crackers and tuna that tasted more like cat-food. Our first experience with this dish left my fellow Scouts and I repulsed and we decided to eat only the crackers, but after four days on the river, that same meal seemed a delectable feast.
And I know the same is true of my soul. Sometimes my all to hungry soul settles for food that doesn’t satisfy. I will ingest the very thing that my content soul despises just because it is there and I am hungry. Yet how good is it to know that we can “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” That God’s goodness does not expire or mold, rather the more we partake in knowing God, the greater He becomes.
Well, my stomach has mastered my mind, and I’m off for food.
Grace and peace
