For those who haven't read it already, there has been a lively debate going on in Amazon.com over Hunter Lewis's book, **Where Keynes Went Wrong...**
An arrogant pro-Keynes critical review of the book was written by a "Michael Emmett Brady", which stimulated the debate. Tom Woods made an early quick entry, but later a poster called "Suo Marte" jumped in, who seemed to be a very knowledgeable Austrian/Libertarian and well versed in Keynes's General Theory. He pretty well disposed of another arrogant Marxist poster called "Stergios D. Marangos", and in my opinion, defeated "Michael Emmett Brady". I suspect the person who called himself "Suo Marte" is a contributor at Mises.org, but I would like to know if anyone can identify him, or perhaps the other posters as well.
Very interesting...
Funny, I noticed that a while back when I was searching to get the book.
As has been said before, we should really make an effort to review Austrian and liberal/libertarian books well on Amazon. I don't mean propagandise them, that will defeat the point. The idea is to pick the books that have really affected your experience of the world, and those books you really love (e.g. The Law, Economics in One Lesson) and review them highly.
I always read Amazon reviews before purchasing a product, and high level of reviews signals a products reliability to me. If libertarian products tend to have higher reviews we may be able to increase their readership.
Even if people don't like the ideas expressed within it can't hurt to let people know there is a significant minority that don't like violence, that don't want to be pushed around and seek a better world, without subscribing to crazy utopianism.
Amazon is the front line in some respects.
The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community.
Yes. I noticed during the course of the debate that the pro-Keynes/anti-libertarians/anti-Austrians employed 2 primary tactics: a dismissal of anyone who has not read Keynes's General Theory cover to cover, and a disdain for those "who don't do math". Those who "do math" do not permit those who "don't do math" to argue that the math ought not to be done in the first place as a basis for sound economic reasoning. To have any success and gain respect among Keynesian or neo-classical debaters, it appears that Austrians have to first demonstrate that they understand the math, and THEN argue why the math ought NOT to be done.
I never really understood the "can't do the math" objection. If the whole basis for setting up the mathematical equations is flawed, the math simply needn't be discussed. I'd be very surprised if scholars made such an argument. It seems more of a layperson misunderstanding.
Why anarchy fails
Well yes, but most mainstream economists do use math. From what I have seen, they do not readily accept the assertion that "the whole basis for setting up the mathematical equations is flawed." They have to be shown why.
AJ: I never really understood the "can't do the math" objection. If the whole basis for setting up the mathematical equations is flawed, the math simply needn't be discussed. I'd be very surprised if scholars made such an argument. It seems more of a layperson misunderstanding.
I was one posting as Kid Salami - I'm an engineer and so just an amateur follower of the austrian school. I had just finished the book and offhandedly left a three line post with two questions which ended up taking hours of my time over the next 2 weeks. I tried to force them to express the arguments in clear English, which they found very hard to do. And I agree, people really do read these reviews - and at least two people did enter the discussion who were looking for information, so it's good to put down these confused reviews where possible with clear arguments, which I hope I did.
Their argument of "You haven't read the GT" didn't work with Suo Morte. My favourite bit was I think when Brady said that Mandelbrot had proved that libertarianism was wrong using fractal geometry. You can't make this stuff up etc..
John DeWitt: For those who haven't read it already, there has been a lively debate going on in Amazon.com over Hunter Lewis's book, **Where Keynes Went Wrong...** An arrogant pro-Keynes critical review of the book was written by a "Michael Emmett Brady", which stimulated the debate. Tom Woods made an early quick entry, but later a poster called "Suo Marte" jumped in, who seemed to be a very knowledgeable Austrian/Libertarian and well versed in Keynes's General Theory. He pretty well disposed of another arrogant Marxist poster called "Stergios D. Marangos", and in my opinion, defeated "Michael Emmett Brady". I suspect the person who called himself "Suo Marte" is a contributor at Mises.org, but I would like to know if anyone can identify him, or perhaps the other posters as well. Very interesting...
Can I get a link to it please.
"If we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion."
I finally bought Where Keynes Went Wrong from Borders.com; they offered me 30% off and no shipping (I shipped it to a nearby store), so the book cost me ~$13. Hopefully I'll find time to read it!
Just got this book and plan on starting it within the next couple days. If the Keynesians are so up in arms about it, the book must be good.
As I mentioned in another post, I've read a lot of the book and thought it was pretty good. The only grudge I have is that there are also a lot of quotes or writings that are used in which there is literally 1 to 3 words pulled from whatever it was that Keynes was saying or writing. I thought that this was unfair because unless you've read the books that they are pulled from, you wouldn't know what context they were being used in.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R3F1RKQD5GRSEW/ref=cm_cd_pg_pg1?ie=UTF8&cdPage=1
jerry33:Their argument of "You haven't read the GT" didn't work with Suo Morte. My favourite bit was I think when Brady said that Mandelbrot had proved that libertarianism was wrong using fractal geometry. You can't make this stuff up etc..
It's odd, then, that Taleb is a libertarian, and the book Brady refers to praises Hayek as a thinking economist while dissing Keynes.
Wow, Suo Marte absolutely obliterated him.
Thank you for your posts. The fact that you are an engineer would mean that you "can do the math". The judgment remains as to how much or even whether "the math" ought to be done as a useful tool in the study of human action or praxeology.
I'd still like to know who "Suo Marte" is. The name seems to indicate some knowledge about tracing the origins of the Austrian School to the Spanish scholastics.
jmorris84: As I mentioned in another post, I've read a lot of the book and thought it was pretty good. The only grudge I have is that there are also a lot of quotes or writings that are used in which there is literally 1 to 3 words pulled from whatever it was that Keynes was saying or writing. I thought that this was unfair because unless you've read the books that they are pulled from, you wouldn't know what context they were being used in.
I'm serious. Why did the author pull quotes and only select a word, sometimes, to make a point?
jmorris84: I'm serious. Why did the author pull quotes and only select a word, sometimes, to make a point?
Have you compared said quotes to the same passages in The General Theory?
I thought that the one and two word quotes were a little odd too, but he did have plenty of more substantial quotes also. My guess was that he did this when he was paraphrasing and massively condensing some of Keynes' overly verbose or mathematical passages.
Suo Marte is a big fan of Jesus Huerta de Soto and met him in Spain during one of his lectures. I'd like to know more about Marte's background, as he is an excellent debater.
jerry33: I was one posting as Kid Salami - I'm an engineer and so just an amateur follower of the austrian school. I had just finished the book and offhandedly left a three line post with two questions which ended up taking hours of my time over the next 2 weeks. I tried to force them to express the arguments in clear English, which they found very hard to do. And I agree, people really do read these reviews - and at least two people did enter the discussion who were looking for information, so it's good to put down these confused reviews where possible with clear arguments, which I hope I did. Their argument of "You haven't read the GT" didn't work with Suo Morte. My favourite bit was I think when Brady said that Mandelbrot had proved that libertarianism was wrong using fractal geometry. You can't make this stuff up etc..
The GT as in General Theory?Wow...
Not even self-proclaimed Keynesians read the GT anymore. Talk about outdated. Half of it isn't even on economics. It's half liberal memoirs half economics.
existence is elsewhere
Hi John.
I stumbled across this mises.org thread this morning, as part of a google search I was doing on my 'nom de plum' - suo Marte. I really appreciate your kind words and also those by Matt R and Esuric. So, I've just signed up to this community to say "Thank You!"
Also, I've never written anything for Mises.org nor do I have any sort of formal affiliation w/ the Mises Institute in any way. I have purchased several books from the book store. And my wife & I took the trip to Salamanca, Spain last October so I could meet Professor Jesus Huerta de Soto.
Thanks again.
Best,
suo Marte
ps - for your entertainment, check out my current 'debate' w/ Mr. Brady following his so-called review of the Dean Baker book "False Profits" on amazon.com.
Mr. Marte...Thank you for your response. I hope we will be able to correspond from time to time, if not more often...
John