<p>“Sure I could ask a random person off the street, but I’d rather ask a doctor.”</p>
<p>Why is it that you chose a random person to compare ideas with a doctor? What if you chose a person who has been studying medicine just as long as the doctor, but does not have a medical degree? Who’s advice would you take then? The doctor’s, of course, but you would have no reason to.</p>
<p>Actually, you are deluding my entire point. My point is not that a random person’s opinion about a subject is more valid than a professional’s. My point is that a degree does nothing to change the valitidy of one’s opinion. If you deny that, then you are just being stubborn…</p>
<p>that’s right, in the end I would always take the advice of the person with the MD when it came to health, because the chances of that doctor being a quack is less than the chances of the unaccredited (but possibly just as knowledgable) person being a quack, so I do have reason to. </p>
<p>I chose a random person off the street because in this thread people are comparing Galoisien (random person) to what an Econ prof might say, and several have said they choose to believe their teachers instead. The doctor/random person situation was not too different from the economist/random student situation. I understand completely why someone like Blair would take her professor’s opinion more seriously, I would too, because I personally disagree with several posts the OP has made. When it comes to economics, since I don’t know too much about the subject, I would listen to professionals who have studied it extensively as opposed to another kid. Not that I wouldn’t consider his opinion, just wouldn’t take it as seriously as the PhD. I guess we’re both stubborn, but that’s just how I feel.</p>
hmm could this possibly be stemming from the fact that some people criticize Ron Paul by saying he’s a physician and hasn’t studied politics or economics or law like many politicians? in that case, i agree a degree doesn’t automatically makes the point more valid, you don’t need a degree in politics, economics or law to go into into politics or know a lot about it. heck, i don’t think mccain had a degree in any of those either. but I think the point blairb91, msc261, and starg were trying to make is in certain circumstances, people will listen to the more educated person; the average American doesn’t know as much about biology as a biologist, therefore we will listen to the biologist. That’s common sense.</p>
<p>umm this thread is ridiculously long so I can’t decide if I agree with the guy who posted it or not since i’m not gonna read every single post but…I’m having trouble finding a summer job! I don’t want to work in the city since the commute will eat up my salary, and my hometown isn’t so big. damn that pesky recession, the ice cream shop was closed down :(</p>
<p>“the chances of that doctor being a quack is less than the chances of the unaccredited (but possibly just as knowledgable) person being a quack, so I do have reason to.”</p>
<p>What? Are we talking theory here? You really don’t have reason to believe that someone just as knowledgable as a doctor is more likely to be a quack.</p>
<p>“I chose a random person off the street because in this thread people are comparing Galoisien (random person) to what an Econ prof might say, and several have said they choose to believe their teachers instead.”</p>
<p>I’m glad you said this. Galoisien, in saying that war is not “good” for an economy, has a valid point. He explained his point cohesively, and even posted an article concurring with him. His point really isn’t made less valid because he opposes someone with a degree, is it? Just to say, you do seem to be avoiding my point. Maybe you overlooked it…</p>
<p>And lastly, you are not offended with my disagreement, are you? I enjoy a freindly debate and am not intentionally trying to attack your beliefs, even if it may come across that way.</p>
<p>Edit: Like I need to make this longer…</p>
<p>“hmm could this possibly be stemming from the fact that some people criticize Ron Paul by saying he’s a physician and hasn’t studied politics or economics or law like many politicians?”</p>
no I meant I wouldn’t bother asking the non-doctor anyway, I would go straight to the doctor with a serious health concern, even if that nice boy in Bio class claimed he knew what was wrong. How would I know he’s just as knowledgable?
No sorry I was referring to his original post on page 1 which I disagreed with, not any other points he might have made, because I didn’t read most of this thread. I just jumped to the last page…I didn’t know the topic had strayed so much :)</p>
<p>and nope I’m not offended, I think we’re pretty polite Libertarians don’t stupidly attack each other like Dems and Reps (now people will get offended lol).</p>
<p>“no I meant I wouldn’t bother asking the non-doctor anyway, I would go straight to the doctor with a serious health concern, even if that nice boy in Bio class claimed he knew what was wrong. How would I know he’s just as knowledgable?”</p>
<p>You artfully avoided challenging what I said ;)</p>
<p>Your a libertarian too? I’m glad you joined the group! So far it’s just me, LogicWarrior, and you :)</p>
<p>Well I don’t like Ron Paul, I don’t know why we should get rid of the FBI or DEA or return to the gold standard or abolish NAFTA or the Fed Reserve, but I am for minimzing role of government in our personal lives and maximing the rights of the individual…but I am not registered with any political party. </p>
<p>I thought Logic was liberal? I think Galoisien is libertarian.</p>
<p>“I don’t know why we should get rid of the FBI or DEA or return to the gold standard or abolish NAFTA or the Fed Reserve”</p>
<p>All those actions would increase individual liberty in my eyes. I’m not going to deny it’s debatable, though. We’ve had enough of that for tonight…</p>
<p>Stargazerlillies was right about my point. I wouldn’t automatically dismiss any college freshman, but I would dismiss Galoisien because he’s pompous about his ideas. He has made good points, but they have been overshadowed by his original statement.</p>
<p>Don’t take it from me, take it from Bastiat and Rousseau. As far as I know, their reputation > that of your teachers.</p>
<p>Degree credentials matter when you’re applying for jobs. Not for intellectual discussions. Your paper won’t be critiqued or peer-reviewed less-heavily simply by having higher educational qualifications, and people from community colleges are just as eligible to submit papers to a peer-reviewed journal as professors. </p>
<p>Speaking of which, can I see your teachers’ research papers? Are they available online? That way, we can all judge the merit of their ideas using the free market of ideas.</p>
<p>Yes, because fiat currency has a history of stability, right?</p>
<p>Why don’t you give an explanation of your beliefs instead of attacking me like a straight-up jerk?</p>
<p>Edit: Yeah, that was an attack. Sorry, Blair. Just to clarify though, it’s not that I think you are idiotic, it’s that I think that particular belief is idiotic.</p>
<p>Very true. Furthermore, there’s only two types of economic forecasters; those that know they don’t know, and those that don’t know they don’t know.</p>
<p>Not really, but let’s not degenerate ourselves to a point where we’re taking Ron Paul so seriously that we advocate many of his ideas- because the guy is obviously too old.</p>
<p>So, were all of them economists during times of war? </p>
<p>sure, they are probably good at some things, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they are critically analysing the significance of war spending (or lack thereof). They could be brilliant in other fields. </p>
<p>Remember, Einstein didn’t believe in quantum tunneling or nonlocal effects. Clearly, we should reject those ideas on account of his superb qualifications. (Later physicists proved him wrong.)</p>
<p>That’s why it’s important to dissect someone’s ideas based on their ideas, not their ****ing degrees. It also allows for the free flow of ideas and maximisation of their critique and utility, not only ensuring that bad ideas exit the free market of ideas, but that valid ideas are not prevented from entering.</p>
<p>That’s why “my teacher said it” is <em>such</em> a bad argument. It’s an argument from ethos, but it doesn’t matter in an intellectual discussion.</p>
in that case, i agree a degree doesn’t automatically makes the point more valid, you don’t need a degree in politics, economics or law to go into into politics or know a lot about it. heck, i don’t think mccain had a degree in any of those either. but I think the point blairb91, msc261, and starg were trying to make is in certain circumstances, people will listen to the more educated person; the average American doesn’t know as much about biology as a biologist, therefore we will listen to the biologist. That’s common sense.</p>
and am not intentionally trying to attack your beliefs, even if it may come across that way.</p>