Dilbert on Zero Sum Thinking
As an economics professor, it's pretty hard to get across to people that the modern world isn't a zero sum game.
The April 10th Dilbert sums this up beautifully.
For those not in the know, a zero sum game is one in which the winner gains what the loser loses.
More broadly, the widespread viewpoint that life is a zero sum game is a motivation for envy, and a common justification for the belief that exploitation of the weak is a lot more common than it is.
It's important to limit this worldview, because all around us society is filled with positive sum games (where everyone wins): shopping, having kids, stopping at stop signs, being punctual, sex, blogging, speaking the same language as your neighbor, and so on.
posted by Randy at 10:05 AM
1 Comments:
I shall be the brave one to comment on the professors post.
In response to zero sum thinking, the other examples that I see are monopoly, chess, and perhaps times in grade school when a sickly looking child was picked last to play on a team.
I have heard that this zero sum thinking is the 'root' of socialism, and perhaps redistribution equitity policies.
Feedback and comments to my comments are always welcome!
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