Prelude to Change

From what has been discussed, we understand the scientific grounding of our economics rests on the belief that all reality is ultimately describable and determinate in terms of matter and motion, and accordingly there is a mechanistic determinism to the phenomenal world. It follows that the whole of reality can be mathematically modeled and predicted with precision and, emanating from this materialist mechanistic view of Nature, cause and effect being mechanistic in nature, are linear and contiguous. Taking these assumptions to their logical conclusion, we can conclude that our phenomenal world — which includes human behavior — is ultimately determined and explainable by material causes. Thus if individuals have influence, or can be influenced, the nature of this influence is physically or materially based. Furthermore, based upon this mechanistic view of Nature, in conjunction with a belief in the independent and absolute nature of uniformly flowing time, growth is seen as infinite and without bound. Moreover this concept of time also contributes to the belief that what is done today will soon be in the past — it will be past us, so it doesn’t concern us. As an example, consider the common expression among Wall Street traders and investment bankers I’ll be gone you’ll begone (IBG-YBG), which speaks to serving one’s self-short-sighted gain rather than serving clients — selling a deal that makes oneself a huge commission has priority (Dash, 2009).