Re: quantification fetish

[tom abeles <tabeles@tmn.com>]

Marasigan . Vicente wrote:
> 
> In the context of Jay's and Dostoevski's fatalistic forecast, can I be
> forgiven for indulging in quantification fetish?  
--------------

I am not certain that forgiveness is in order. There are just some
problems that don't y;ield nicely to quantitative anlaysis and some
domains of forcasting are in that set. If I am at popint A and I need
to get to point b and there is only one path, then quantitave analysis
may have a good solution- how much time, energy costs etc will yield
to mathematical analysis.  But when the path is not clear, is not
continuous and is not necessarily a predicatble curve, then we have
problems. Julian Simon has played this to the hilt in confronting many
a "green" gloom and domm sayer who wanted legiitamcy by trying to
quote numbers. And there in lies the problem. Not every problem can be
seen as a nail, needing the proverbial hammer.

cheers

tom abeles