This is a very subjective way of looking at it. There are people that Tyler Cowen enjoys spending time with, and there are people that different people enjoy spending time with! (I’m not saying that everyone is equally special, just that this argument is weak.)
People are vastly different on all kinds of scales: physical (including sexual), mental, spiritual, moral, sociological, economic, and political. And others.
To claim that these differences are small is to take a viewpoint from outside our species. It is true that most of these differences are smaller than the difference between even close species.
But it is also true that--unless I misremember his bio--Tyler Cowan is a member of our species.
"Incredibly" different? What do you have trouble believing about human differences? We have a lot of behavioral variability compared to most species, but a lot less than dogs.
Really? Describe two dog behaviors as different as, say, a Mongolian soldier in the army of Genghis Khan and a medical doctor (and medical-school professor) nun in contemporary Argentina.
This argument can be settled by Substack metrics (tracking the most popular posts by authors). When you find out what people are reading (especially paid subscribers), you reveal their truest preferences.
This is also seen with our personal associations. We usually spend time with the people we like best (unless they’re paying for our time like employers).
This is a very subjective way of looking at it. There are people that Tyler Cowen enjoys spending time with, and there are people that different people enjoy spending time with! (I’m not saying that everyone is equally special, just that this argument is weak.)
are you trying to make Caplan's point for him?
Shouldn't it have been? Yes. But as you well know, Tyler has trouble backing down from assertions.
This post makes me think of the following joke:
Two economists walked past a Porsche showroom with an elegant sports car visible through the window:
First Economist: "I really want that car."
Second Economist: "Obviously not."
(Credit DRH)
Humans are like that. Other than John Stuart Mill.
Tyler obviously did not grow up in the neighborhood I did.
So what I'm hearing you say is: some humans are different from others; in particular you are different from Tyler Cowan, Mr. Brady.
I'm reminded of your essay on the "beautiful bubble" you've constructed for yourself.
Tyler clearly has a pretty wonderful bubble if he was willing to entertain this idea.
People are vastly different on all kinds of scales: physical (including sexual), mental, spiritual, moral, sociological, economic, and political. And others.
To claim that these differences are small is to take a viewpoint from outside our species. It is true that most of these differences are smaller than the difference between even close species.
But it is also true that--unless I misremember his bio--Tyler Cowan is a member of our species.
i think a lot of it is reciprocal.
I’m tired of people needing to prove that they are right. So boring, and who cares?
If they care about your opinion, they care whether it's right. And if not, not.
"Incredibly" different? What do you have trouble believing about human differences? We have a lot of behavioral variability compared to most species, but a lot less than dogs.
Really? Describe two dog behaviors as different as, say, a Mongolian soldier in the army of Genghis Khan and a medical doctor (and medical-school professor) nun in contemporary Argentina.
This argument can be settled by Substack metrics (tracking the most popular posts by authors). When you find out what people are reading (especially paid subscribers), you reveal their truest preferences.
This is also seen with our personal associations. We usually spend time with the people we like best (unless they’re paying for our time like employers).