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Exploring the Theme of ‘Orders and Borders’

a proposed paper by

Brian D. McConnell
April, 2008
(emergentorder@live.com)

submitted to

The Fund for the Study of Spontaneous Order

at
The Atlas Economic Research Foundation
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TRANSCENDING THE TYRANNY OF SUBJECTIVE VALUE

Preliminary (Rough) Abstract

This project utilizes a CAS approach to consider the Keynesian and Austrian schools’ comparative
contributions to the field of Economics as a ‘social science’, but will evaluate their theoretical tenets in
relation to ‘spontaneous’ (Ames, 1989) and ‘emergent order’ (McKelvey, 2007) as a broadened context of
‘natural science’. It will consequently interpose Ken Wilber’s AQAL (All Quadrant All Level) Model
(Wilber, 2007), as a perceptual framework through which the philosophical limits previously imposed by
the subject-object problem can be better understood and subsequently transcended. The paper will further
illustrate how, in utilizing this same perspective, the conceptual dimensions of ‘macro’ and ‘micro’
economics constitute a continuous integration (naturally) consociating multidisciplinary heterodoxies
across a variety of cultural boundaries (Mason, 2005) and in so doing, offers an exceptionally rich
groundwork for inspiring ‘new’ learning incentives while simultaneously advancing mutually beneficial
(inter)relations.

An Introductory Overview

“In Oceania at the present day, Science, in the old sense, has almost ceased to exist. In Newspeak there is
no word for ‘Science’. The empirical method of thought, on which all the scientific achievements of the
past were founded, is opposed to the most fundamental principles of Ingsoc”
1984 (Orwell, 1949)

Dating from at least the introduction of Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis and the Scientific Revolution
which ensued, Mankind’s developmental fate; the quality of his existence, has generally been shaped or
otherwise determined, as a function of the ‘value’ derived from the practical application of his knowledge.
Similarly then, but stemming from the Greek terms oikos (dwelling) and nomos (custom or law), the
meaning of the word ‘economics’ refers directly to the procedural ‘rules’ (or ‘order’) governing a
household’s operation or stewardship.

However, because this process is as fundamentally intrinsic and yet structurally complex as it is in relation
to life in general, and human experience in particular, the subject has commanded the attention, study, and
involvement of some of humanity’s greatest minds. Copernicus’ own thoughts as expressed in his Monetae
Cudendae Ratio certainly reflect how crucially important he believed the power and responsibility of
coinage was to the prospective future of a republic’s general health and prosperity1. Likewise, Isaac
Newton’s appointment to the Royal Mint in 1696 coincided with a publishing hiatus and experimental

1
The reader may wish to view an automatically translated copy of Copernicus’ treatise using the provided
link.
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dabbling in alchemy.

Yet, these examples are noteworthy because they reflect in microcosm historical instances where the
prospect of a previously unparalleled boom in human knowledge and accompanying technological
advancement, have heralded revolutionary transformations to the pre-existing socioeconomic paradigm.
Consequently though, because epochal ‘breakthroughs’ of this magnitude also signal expectancies for
equally monumental change in either a gain or loss of respective power (and wealth), they tend to generate
tremendous political and educational upheaval in effecting, altering, or otherwise displacing, the obtrusive
domination of outmoded ideologies. Perhaps no where is this any more evident in the ‘modern era’ than
with the economist Thomas Malthus’ influence on the formulation of Charles Darwin’ s ideas about
‘competition’ and ‘the struggle for existence’ , as proffered by the biologist in On the Origin of Species
(Vasishth, 1994).

Concluding Summary

“I will argue that Clausius’ model of a universe running down by entropy and the Darwinian model of
biological evolution as an endless competitive struggle for scarce resources both give half-truths about
Nature that seemed appropriate in their historical context but are now seen to be fundamentally flawed,
thereby seriously misleading us and holding up our own natural evolution.”
“The Biology of Business” (Sahtouris, 2005)

Imagine if you can a global, centralized, regulatory system imbued with the power to affect ‘value’ in
respect to the allocation of resources, the consumption of goods, and the distribution of wealth, all for the
supposed purpose of managing or otherwise sustaining, ‘equilibrium’ . Next, try to envision a point in
Mankind’ s development when a combination of knowledge, conscious awareness, and technological
advancement would coalesce in such a way as to pose a challenge to the necessity of this system’ s
continued existence in respect to its functional cost and operation.

As phenomenal as this scenario is in respect to human progress though, it is certainly not without historical
precedent. Where recent achievements in digital, internet, and multimedia technologies appear comparable
to those of printing and bookbinding during the Renaissance, Enlightenment, or Industrial Revolution, a
new question arises. How will we avert the wholesale devastation of life that has traditionally accompanied
these prior periods in the form of a conquering annihilation of indigenous peoples or internal divisions
leading to civil or even, world war?

Such was the general tone of a similar query posed by Albert Einstein to Sigmund Freud in “an exchange of
letters” between the two, and inaugurated as a League on Nations project in 1931.2(Leich, 2000) So too
will be the focus of this paper, assuming it were both possible and prudent to expand their discourse to
incorporate the respective views of fellow cohorts Ludwig von Mises and F. A. Hayek.

2
“The Einstein-Freud Correspondence (1931-1932)” is available as an excerpt from, Einstein on Peace.
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Bibliography (Partial)

Ames, Bruce N. 1989. “ Science, Economics, and the Spontaneous Order” [Internet]. Scientific Notes No. 6,
London: Libertarian Alliance; 1989. [cited 2008 Apr. 9]. Available from:
http://www.libertarian.co.uk/lapubs/scien/scien006.pdf.

Leich, Mark. 2000. “ Instinct and survival: an exchange of letters between Einstein and Freud” , CMAJ
2000; 163 (9): 1178-1179. [accessed 2008 Apr. 29]. Available from:
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/163/9/1178.

Mason, Robert M. 2005. “ The Critical Role of Librarian/Information Officer as Boundary Spanner Across
Cultures” [Internet]. World Library and Information Congress: 71th IFLA General Conference
and Council. Oslo: IFLA; 2005. [cited 2008 Apr. 11]. Available from:
http://www.ifla.org/IV/ifla71/papers/013e-Mason.pdf.

McKelvey, Bill. 2007. “ Emergent Order Creation between the Edges of Order and Chaos” . [Internet]. [cited
2008 Apr. 28]. Los Angeles: UCLA, 2007. Available from:
http://www.economics.uci.edu/~dbell/mc2007.

Mises, Ludwig. 1949. Human Action: A Treatise on Economics [Internet]. San Francisco: Fox & Wilkes,
1996. [cited 2008 Apr. 10]. Available from:
http://mises.org/pdf/humanaction/pdf/humanaction.pdf.

Orwell, George. 1949. Nineteen Eighty-four. thewritedirection.net, 2004 [Internet]. [cited 2008 Apr. 12].
Available from:
http://www.netlibrary.net/eBooks/Coradella_Collegiate_Bookshelf_Collection/orwell-1984.pdf.

Sahtouris, Elisabet. 2005. “ The Biology of Business – New Laws of Nature Reveal a Better Way for
Business” [Internet]. [cited 2008 Apr. 27]. Available from: http://www.via-visioninaction.org/via-
li/articles/Sahtouris_BiologyOfBusiness-full_version.pdf.

Vasishth, Ashwani. 1994. “ Planning, Change, and Darwin’ s Evolution: Is Competition a Law of Nature?” .
[Internet]. [cited 2008 Apr. 26]. Available from: http://www.csun.edu/~vasishth/Vasishth-
Darwin+Competition.pdf

Wilber, Ken. 2007. “ Ken Wilber’ s Model of Human Development: An Overview” [Internet]. [cited 2008
Apr. 8]. Available from:
http://www.newworldview.com/library/Helfrich_P_The_Five_Phases_of_Wilber.pdf.