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That doesn't change anything the post you're replying to said. Rational self-interest in that sense is a simplifying assumption made as part of the process of m
by omnicognate 5y ago
That doesn't change anything the post you're replying to said. Rational self-interest in that sense is a simplifying assumption made as part of the process of mathematically modelling economic behaviour. It's not a prescription for how a real world company like Amazon should behave.
Somebody will probably now bring up "fiduciary duty" and "shareholder value" which are almost as irrelevant.
- missedthecue 5y agoWhy should we expect Amazon (or anyone for that matter) to engage in behaviour that favors you at their own expense? That makes no sense to me. Of course they should act in their own rational self interest, just like you and I do.
- omnicognate 5y agoThe point I made wasn't about what Amazon should or shouldn't do. It was about the irrelevance of the economic modelling concept of "rational self-interest" (which describes behaviour, rather than prescribing it) to that question. If you think humans or companies should work solely on the basis of self-interest then you're in good company (especially if you're from the US, though it's far from a uniquely American view). I'm not going to dissuade you by arguing with you on HN, but I do disagree. I hope at some point you and the many, many people with similar views learn to look at the world a bit differently.
- missedthecue 5y agoHow is it irrelevant to model that way when we're in agreement that everyone tends to act in their own rational self interest?
- holonomically 5y agoIn what sense are your actions here on HN supporting your rational self interest?