by
Bob Hughes
belie
(en)
(verb) to give a false impression of / (verb) to present an appearance not in agreement with / (verb) to show (something) to be false or wrong / (verb) to run counter to; contradict / (verb) disguise
37
The notion that computers demonstrate capitalism's creativity is finally belied by the computer's history.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
The notion that computers demonstrate capitalism's creativity is finally belied by the computer's history.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
multifarious
(en)
having many varied parts or aspects; multifaceted
82
the multifarious forms of structural and physical violence that come with inequality
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
the multifarious forms of structural and physical violence that come with inequality
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
rebound effect
(en)
in conservation or energy economics: the reduction in expected gains from new technologies that increase the efficiency of resource use, because of behavioral or other systemic responses (aka the Jevons Paradox; named after William Stanley Jevons, who studied the consumption of coal after steam engines were made more efficient in 1865)
111
the 'Jevons Paradox' (often known nowadays as the 'rebound effect') has been observed again and again with every subsequent major technology
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
the 'Jevons Paradox' (often known nowadays as the 'rebound effect') has been observed again and again with every subsequent major technology
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
Kuznets curve
(en)
the hypothesis that as an economy develops, market forces first increase and then decrease economic inequality. The hypothesis was first advanced by economist Simon Kuznets in the 1950s and '60s. Highly contested
113
Kuznets hoped that inequality would fall; he originally regarded his theory as 'perhaps 5 per cent empirical information and 95 per cent speculation, some of it possibly tainted by wishful thinking', but it was so enthusiastically received that he shed his doubts and the 'Kuznets Curve' soon gained the status of a natural law.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
Kuznets hoped that inequality would fall; he originally regarded his theory as 'perhaps 5 per cent empirical information and 95 per cent speculation, some of it possibly tainted by wishful thinking', but it was so enthusiastically received that he shed his doubts and the 'Kuznets Curve' soon gained the status of a natural law.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
Solow's paradox
(en)
aka the productivity paradox. defined as a perceived "discrepancy between measures of investment in information technology and measures of output at the national level"
117
In 1987, Robert Solow stated that 'we can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics'. Henceforth, this was known as 'Solow's paradox'.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
In 1987, Robert Solow stated that 'we can see the computer age everywhere but in the productivity statistics'. Henceforth, this was known as 'Solow's paradox'.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
obdurate
(en)
(adjective) stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing / (adjective) hardened in feelings / (adjective) resistant to persuasion or softening influences
120
The human mind's obdurate tendency to overconfidence becomes a major liability for humanity when the decision-making is delegated to tiny numbers of highly privileged minds.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
The human mind's obdurate tendency to overconfidence becomes a major liability for humanity when the decision-making is delegated to tiny numbers of highly privileged minds.
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
baleful
(en)
(adjective) deadly or pernicious in influence / (adjective) foreboding or threatening evil
244
The baleful 1969 decision to 'go IBM' was worthy of any corporate capitalist boardroom
on the Soviet space push
confirm
7 years, 2 months ago
The baleful 1969 decision to 'go IBM' was worthy of any corporate capitalist boardroom
on the Soviet space push
confirm
7 years, 2 months ago
cybernetics
(en)
(noun plural but singular in construction) the science of communication and control theory that is concerned especially with the comparative study of automatic control systems (as the nervous system and brain and mechanical-electrical communication systems)
271
It was Wiener who coined the word 'cybernetics' from the ancient Greek word for a helmsman: kybernetes
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
It was Wiener who coined the word 'cybernetics' from the ancient Greek word for a helmsman: kybernetes
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
a term for the loans provided by the IMF and the World Bank to countries that experienced economic crises, which come with strings attached: privatisation and deregulation, mainly (the conditions are also known as the Washington Consensus)
282
imposing 'structural adjustment' agreements: drastic cuts to public-sector spending and the sell-off of public-sector assets to fund debt-servicing
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
imposing 'structural adjustment' agreements: drastic cuts to public-sector spending and the sell-off of public-sector assets to fund debt-servicing
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
metanorm
(en)
a norm that requires people to punish transgressors of lower-level norms
335
Robert Axelrod [...] found that for a social norm to become established [...] society must also and especially disapprove of those who fail to show their disapproval of the offending behavior. This second-order norm enforcement mechanism is called a 'metanorm'
notable
7 years, 2 months ago
Robert Axelrod [...] found that for a social norm to become established [...] society must also and especially disapprove of those who fail to show their disapproval of the offending behavior. This second-order norm enforcement mechanism is called a 'metanorm'
notable
7 years, 2 months ago