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Things Worth More Than They Cost

utility

Christmas

groceries

adulting

is a result rather than the cause of being known. Animals and plants are not known as a result of their usefulness but are deemed to be useful or interesting because they are first of all known.

Examples like these could be drawn from all parts of the world and one may readily conclude that animals and plants are not k-.n-n-w-- nas a result of their usefulness... they are deemed to be useful or interesting because they are first of all known. (levi-strauss 1962: 9)

is, in modern economic theory, not some kind of substantive objective function analogous to profits that the consumer tries to maximize. Utility is simply shorthand for preferences, and rationality means nothing more than the choice of the most preferred option in the feasibility set, subject to consistency constraints.

Weber's notion of instrumental rationality emphasises efficiency rather than consistency . . . [H]e interprets 'desires' as 'goals' rather than 'preferences'. Although this approach makes good sense for the analysis of economic and political decisions, it is less suitable for consumer decisions. In modern economic theory, utility is not some kind of substantive objective function analogous to profits that the consumer tries to maximise. Utility is simply shorthand for preferences, and rationality means nothing more than the choice of the most preferred option in the feasibility set, subject to consistency constraints' (Elster 2000: 36).

is not something fixed but arises out of configurations. Nobody has ever encountered a tool created wholly for a use yet to be found, on materials yet to be discovered.

Does not a specialist in technological problems tell us that 'nobody has ever encountered a tool created wholly for a use yet to be found, on materials yet to be discovered' ' l

is often discovered later. The most esoteric researches have found important applications.

Experience has shown that the most esoteric researches have found important applications. Unless utility and rationality are dismissed beyond recall, it cannot be forgotten that Clerk-Maxwell's speculations on the ether led Hertz to the discovery which culminated in the wireless. And indeed one Nazi spokesman remarks: 'As the practice of today rests on the science of yesterday, so is the research of today the practice of tomorrow.'l3 (Merton 1938 : 325)

is greatest of all in that which has no utility. Nothing is more useful to man that those arts which have no utility.

Nothing is more useful to man that those arts which have no utility. (Ovid)

is everything. The only worthwhile achievements of man are those which are socially useful.

The only worthwhile achievements of man are those which are socially useful. Alfred Adler

is tautological because whatever a person does, be it work or leisure, is declared to be utility maximization of something or other.

Prattis notes that the premise of utility maximization is tautological... whatever a person does, may it be work or leisure, is declared to be utility maximization. If he or she doesn't maximize money then it must be pleasure or some other value. . . . . . . .. For example, a person may sacrifice his or her own time, finances or even health to help others. Formalist would then pronounce that s/he does so due to placing a high value on helping others, and so sacrificing other goals in order to maximize this value and thereby to gain utility (e.g. meaning, satisfaction of having helped, approval from others etc.). (Wikipedia)'

is the idea that we must see things coarsely in order for them to be useable to us.

No pre-existing 'idea' was here at work, but the utilitarian fact that only when we see things coarsely and made equal do they become calculable and usable to u s Finality in reason is an effect, not a cause: life miscarries with any other kinds of reason, to which there is a continual impulse-it becomes difficult to survey-too unequal(nietzsche 'will to power' : 278)

utility, n.Memes

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utility