Boundaries of economics: Small is Beautiful

Small is Beautiful

by E.F. Schumacher

A classic economics book published in 1973, Small is Beautiful has only become more relevant as globalization and pursuit of economic growth continues. His main point is that our current economy is unsustainable and he is particularly harsh on the field of economics. He brings about a great point regarding the capabilities and restriction of economic theory. 

If he remains unaware of the fact that there are boundaries to the applicability of the economic calculus, he is likely to fall into a similar kind of error to that of certain medieval theologians who tried to settle questions of physics by means of biblical quotations. Every science is beneficial within its proper limits but becomes evil and destructive as soon as it transgresses them.

Western Responsibility: The Chomsky Reader

The Chomsky Reader

by Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky has long been one of my favorite 'radical' minds and one of the reasons I like him so much is his relentless pursuit of the truth and his view that intellectuals have a responsibility. This responsibility extends beyond the intellectual elite, rather it encompasses entire advanced societies. 

In the Western world at least, they have the power that comes from political liberty, from access to information and freedom of expression. For a privileged minority, Western democracy provides the leisure, the facilities, and the training to seek the truth lying hidden behind the veil of distortion and misrepresentation, ideology, and class interest through which the events of current history are presented to us. The responsibilities of intellectuals, then, are much deeper than what Macdonald calls the “responsibility of peoples,” given the unique privileges that intellectuals enjoy.