tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post6327530941352541083..comments2023-11-02T07:31:47.448-04:00Comments on Austrian Economics and Literature: Art and Literature Should ProfitTroy Camplinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post-48471384473613946192011-01-20T00:40:43.941-05:002011-01-20T00:40:43.941-05:00Happy to give it. That's what we'd like to...Happy to give it. That's what we'd like to be able to be here for. :-)Troy Camplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post-55682678663220240452011-01-19T23:52:37.656-05:002011-01-19T23:52:37.656-05:00Thanks for the explanationThanks for the explanationMichael Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280416746357847160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post-90331309058256815682011-01-19T12:36:01.629-05:002011-01-19T12:36:01.629-05:00Some excellent questions.
Actually, you have thi...Some excellent questions. <br /><br />Actually, you have things backwards in the first question. The economy is uncertain because it's complex. If the economy were simple, it could be predicted. Because it is complex, it cannot be. Thus, the entrepreneur must speculate. At the same time, if an economy is a complex process, that means it is also in a far-from-equilibrium state, a state which is most creative. The result is that new things will be created, and more things will work out than won't -- thus creating wealth. This is true only if we see each person as an entrepreneur, rather than just Misesian promoters.<br /><br />Indeed, the process of valuation of profit and loss is subjective from person to person. Especially when one doesn't have money to make things a bit more objective in that matter (I can think my business is profitable all I want, but if I lose money and go bankrupt, that's a pretty objective determiner of loss). So your statement that a work of art "makes its viewer into an entrepreneur so that he may speculate and find what it is that gives him the psychic satisfaction" is an excellent description of what happens. <br /><br />Your definition of a complicated work of art is certainly one way a work can be complicated. When there is too much going on, the brain tends to simplify. Also, one may analyze a work and come to realize that the work is not that interesting, or that its meaning is a cliche or kitsch. The author or artist can be saying far less than it seems as well. Let me give an example of a poem. If you can summarize a sonnet in under 140 syllables, the work is complicated; if one can write books on it, it's complex. <br /><br />Glad to hear that in addition to literary/artistic theory, we are also helping to maintain healthy relationships! ;-)Troy Camplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post-29560192171642539412011-01-19T11:38:51.858-05:002011-01-19T11:38:51.858-05:00How does your definition of a beautiful (meaning c...How does your definition of a beautiful (meaning complex) work of art fit in with the idea of uncertainty in the market? What makes the market system complex (based on your definition as something which seems simple but is actually difficult to comprehend) is that the entrepreneur must work in a world of uncertainty and must speculate as to profit and loss.<br /><br />The process of valuation of profit and loss is subjective from person to person. So based on this, should a work of art make its viewer into an entrepreneur so that he may speculate and find what it is that gives him the psychic satisfaction of a seemingly simple piece of art?<br /><br />Also would your definition of a complicated piece of art be one which is cluttered (such as a story with too many subplots or a filled with images but no focus or theme)?<br /><br />Just seeking some clarification is all. On a side note, my Girlfriend is an artist so your site has actually allowed me to engage in conversations with her about art and not just economics and politics (which she likes too) as it blends our two favorite subjects, so thanks lolMichael Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280416746357847160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post-83547452077238299402011-01-19T11:36:51.172-05:002011-01-19T11:36:51.172-05:00Beauty isn't merely subjective. There is a rea...Beauty isn't merely subjective. There is a reason why the vast majority of people agree that certain things are beautiful. The complexity of the receiver only allows them to see more beauty, to get the deeper depths of the works.Troy Camplinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16515578686042143845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post-64082178233370681152011-01-19T11:12:37.354-05:002011-01-19T11:12:37.354-05:00Great explanation of the distinction between compl...Great explanation of the distinction between complexity and complicated things. Thanks a lot for that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1071098089153600904.post-58500431071971768022011-01-19T11:02:23.655-05:002011-01-19T11:02:23.655-05:00A work of art or literature is interpreted. The r...A work of art or literature is interpreted. The richness of the interpretation depends on the complexity of the receiver. "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com