Science

AdHocSolver

(2,561 posts)

5. Why do they always reduce everything to an economic model?

Wed Jan 30, 2013, 04:05 PM

Jan 2013

As any competent programmer knows, modular code is much easier and faster to debug and correct.

The benefit is in reduced time and effort to develop a system that "works". It may not be the "best" system. However, aiming for a system that at least "works" is why there is so much variety in the universe.

Even as a metaphor, the term "cost" is misleading.

If the universe were designed on the basis of a least cost model (think cheaply made imported junk from low wage countries), our world would have disintegrated a billion years ago.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Engineers Solve a Biological Mystery and Boost Artificial Intelligence [View all] n2doc Jan 2013 OP

Only A Matter Of Time When Our Machines Decide To Terminate Us. TheMastersNemesis Jan 2013 #1

Reduce, Recycle, Reuse... DreamGypsy Jan 2013 #2

What is the wiring cost of a gene regulatory network? phantom power Jan 2013 #3

paper, data and source code available for free here: phantom power Jan 2013 #4

Why do they always reduce everything to an economic model? AdHocSolver Jan 2013 #5

The word "cost" in this context is broader than just "money" phantom power Jan 2013 #7

Modular systems are easier to "debug" and "correct". AdHocSolver Feb 2013 #8

"so robot brains can acquire the grace and cunning of animals." Javaman Jan 2013 #6