Reference no: EM131424921

Economists use economic models to guide their thinking in regards explaining and predicting that which is otherwise unknown. These models are generalizations that rest on assumptions we use in creating a simplified setting, where only that which is most-pertinent is allowed to come into play directly, and at the same time, that which is not pertinent is rendered excluded by being held constant. Simply put, if you change your founding assumptions, you change the model for you have changed the simplified setting. If you change a variable that is included directly into the model, you can then assume the variable changes marginally then trace out the effects of this marginal change on the variable being explained. Similarly, If you allow a change of a variable that has been excluded, you are relaxing an assumption so you can reason out what the effects of such a change could be.

What is important to understand here, is the description I have just relayed to you describes how economists use models. It is but one example of how models are used more-generally in ALL the other sciences and social sciences. And to go a step further, it is but a description or formalization of how we in an all-inclusive sense use assumptions when we are reasoning about that which we reason about. Our assumptions are our foundations for our thoughts about all that we consider in our efforts towards understanding the world in which we live and the people, both individually and collectively inclusive of their institutions, with whom we come into contact.

Using this knowledge, describe what you think are the dangers to our thinking and actions based on our thinking of our using simplifying assumptions that are wholly untrue or are too strong, too constricting, are way too over-generalizing. Choose whatever context you wish and provide an example. Then describe why having at the very least a small measure of skepticism may be considered healthy for one's own sake and the sake of others.