I have read countless dissertation proposals and few of them are, well, good. That’s a shame, and not only because I often find the experience aggravating. After all the hoops of courses, languages, and exams that you’ve jumped through, the … [Continue reading] about How to Write a Dissertation Prospectus
Homo Economicus
Traditionally, much economic theory assumes that humans are perfectly rational economic actors - we do things that are in our economic self-interest and avoid things that aren't. More recently, economists have increasingly come to recognize that … [Continue reading] about Homo Economicus
The Metaphors of Learning
Learning - at least the cognitive kind we do - is an abstract activity, and like most such activities, we often seek metaphors to describe it. As a teacher, do I best see myself as a guide? Mentor? … [Continue reading] about The Metaphors of Learning
The Real Price of Meat
As we have now become increasingly aware, the "real cost" of meat in America is more than we actually pay. The precise figures are difficult to come by and a bit squishy, but it seems relatively clear that rarely, if ever, has a human community been … [Continue reading] about The Real Price of Meat
On Conversion
In his review in the Jewish Daily Forward of a new book on the "genetic history" of the Jews, Jon Entine writes, "'Who is a Jew?' has been a poignant question for Jews throughout our history." It is a question that has been very much in the news of … [Continue reading] about On Conversion