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Why Scientists and extremely smart people are usually socialist/leftist
Posted on 8/29/14 at 5:40 pm
Posted on 8/29/14 at 5:40 pm
No, I am not claiming that socialism and planned economies are smart, I am merely discussing the interesting nature of political views on the part of scientists, intellectuals, engineers, etc, namely, that they, historically, have largely favored economic planning on the part of the state (socialism).
This was extensively talked about by Hayek, but I think Bastiat gave us the best insight: Scientists lean leftist and socialist because socialism itself makes the politician a scientist:
Indeed, during the 19th and 20th centuries, when central planning still had a large amount of support, it was the physicists, the scientifically minded folks, who were some of the biggest proponents of such powerful statism.
This explains why SpidermanTUba things the way he does.
This was extensively talked about by Hayek, but I think Bastiat gave us the best insight: Scientists lean leftist and socialist because socialism itself makes the politician a scientist:
quote:
The modern politicians, particularly those of the Socialist school, found their different theories upon one common hypothesis; and surely a more strange, a more presumptuous notion, could never have entered a human brain.
They divide mankind into two parts. Men in general, except one, form the first; the politician himself forms the second, which is by far the most important.
In fact, they begin by supposing that men are devoid of any principle of action, and of any means of discernment in themselves; that they have no initiative; that they are inert matter, passive particles, atoms without impulse; at best a vegetation indifferent to its own mode of existence, susceptible of assuming, from an exterior will and hand an infinite number of forms, more or less symmetrical, artistic, and perfected.
Moreover, every one of these politicians does not hesitate to assume that he himself is, under the names of organizer, discoverer, legislator, institutor, or founder, this will and hand, this universal initiative, this creative power, whose sublime mission it is to gather together these scattered materials, that is, men, into society.
Starting from these data, as a gardener according to his caprice shapes his trees into pyramids, parasols, cubes, cones, vases, espaliers, distaffs, or fans; so the Socialist, following his chimera, shapes poor humanity into groups, series, circles, subcircles, honeycombs, or social workshops, with all kinds of variations. And as the gardener, to bring his trees into shape, needs hatchets, pruning hooks, saws, and shears, so the politician, to bring society into shape, needs the forces which he can only find in the laws; the law of tariffs, the law of taxation, the law of assistance, and the law of education.
Indeed, during the 19th and 20th centuries, when central planning still had a large amount of support, it was the physicists, the scientifically minded folks, who were some of the biggest proponents of such powerful statism.
This explains why SpidermanTUba things the way he does.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 5:43 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
This explains why SpidermanTUba things the way he does.
....smarter than Einstein when it comes to books....but dumber than pigshit when it comes to reality.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 5:43 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Extremely intelligent people are also agnostic / atheist by a disproportionate amount.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 5:43 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
It's because they're pretentious asses who think they know what is best for the people, even more so than the people themselves.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 5:59 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Brobots need to read Road to Serfdom and Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth.
Man will never be smart enough to plan other men effectively as they could as individuals.
Man will never be smart enough to plan other men effectively as they could as individuals.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 6:17 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
They live their career in academia and are surrounded by leftism. Universities are so suffused with Leftism and they are not immune to the influence of others and would be somewhat ostracized for thinking differently or independently. When I went to college, "critical thinking" always meant taking the left side of any argument. It was laughable.
This post was edited on 8/29/14 at 6:20 pm
Posted on 8/29/14 at 6:19 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
Why Scientists and extremely smart people are usually socialist/leftist
I disagree with this entire premise.
I do not think scientists or extremely smart people are usually leftist/socialist. In reality I think scientists/intelligent people fall equally between let leaning and right leaning views.
The reason why it may seem like there are more of these people that lean way left is because of the abundance of leftists in academia.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 6:24 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
I don't know, most of the scientists I know are rather apolitical and just like order.
I think the disorder of the free market just looks like an unsolvable equation with too many unknown variables.
They also tend to laugh at people who consider themselves 'political scientists'.
I think the disorder of the free market just looks like an unsolvable equation with too many unknown variables.
They also tend to laugh at people who consider themselves 'political scientists'.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 6:34 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
I wouldn't confuse education level with intelligence either. There are a ton of very stupid people with Ph.D. after their names. Their is also a very strong conformist attitude within any given academic circle.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 6:44 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Intelligent people solve problems. Because they solve problems they make the mistake that there are many like them that will solve problems as well. Also because smart people notice how dumb some people are, they think they have an obligation to save them from themselves. Problem is other smart people don't want to live by their obligated rules because they can think for themselves. Thus creating the "elite" class that does not have to follow the rules. As long as you get into the elite class the overbearing govt regulation doesn't have any real affect on you.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 6:52 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Nothing is more Earth shaking than such time when a reasonably intelligent person realizes that all of the people that are running things, with few exceptions, are no different than they are.
We grow up assuming that people in positions of power and/or influence are magical creatures. It is scary when you realize it isn't true.
We grow up assuming that people in positions of power and/or influence are magical creatures. It is scary when you realize it isn't true.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:04 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
This was extensively talked about by Hayek
Damn, if youre talking about Salma then i might have to get on board.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:13 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
This explains why SpidermanTUba things the way he does.
He doesn't have a PhD, nor is he that intelligent.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:29 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:
They divide mankind into two parts. Men in general, except one, form the first; the politician himself forms the second, which is by far the most important.
Bastiat's description of socialists is not far from the ideas of Plato's Republic, except there was the third class the guardians.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 7:41 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
It's simple. They think people are dumb and think smart people like themselves need to make a bunch of rules to make life for these simpletons as easy as possible.
They don't care about freedom and liberty or whatever. They think they know better and can "solve" society to make it better for all of us.
In short, they are self-righteous assholes.
They don't care about freedom and liberty or whatever. They think they know better and can "solve" society to make it better for all of us.
In short, they are self-righteous assholes.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:31 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
I don't think its possible to be extremely smart & leftist at the same time.
This post was edited on 8/29/14 at 8:33 pm
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:54 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
quote:historically when?
they, historically, have largely favored economic planning on the part of the state (socialism).
No one thinks that is a good idea today.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 8:56 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Also, in this thread people who got easy degrees try to justify why the people who got hard degrees aren't as smart as them.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 9:17 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
I work with many smart scientists and engineers in private industry and few are leftists. Most are very conservative. I really think the divide is between academia/government and private industry. The funding source is the driving force.
Now there are certainly some leftists in private industry -there are advantages for business when they can coerce the government to implement policies favoring their company.
Now there are certainly some leftists in private industry -there are advantages for business when they can coerce the government to implement policies favoring their company.
Posted on 8/29/14 at 9:19 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
you overestimate how "smart" scientists are. how do you measure intelligence? pieces of paper on the wall or the ability to create a business and jobs from scratch?
also, btw, most engineers lean right.
also, btw, most engineers lean right.
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