From: <JulioHuato-at-aol.com>

Mathematics and Economics

In a message dated 98-08-19 09:24:55 EDT, Cyril writes:

Julio starts at the wrong end. The questions I am trying to raise are not about whether it is possible to capture some features of the human within mathematical forms - that can certainly be done, and in that sense is 'admissible' - but how to uncover those features which are specifically human. It is this task of 'unfusing social forms and material processes' which is hampered by 'applying' purely quantitative categories to humanity.

I guess my point is that the effort to uncover 'those features which are specifically human' may be assisted, instead of hampered, by the mathematical treatment of variables whose ultimate content is human. What I have in mind is the interplay between quantitative and qualitative determinations or, more concretely, between statistical inference and theoretical deduction, etc.

Julio