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**highattainlet** · 09-08-2007, 05:39 PM

Interesting! I'm planning on doing a module next semester on the history of economics and economic thought; it's something I've been trying to get into for a while. Anny suggested reading you have would be appreciated. I think there's a very strong link between economic theory and the behaviour of people which is quite intangible - I'm certain that, to some degree, modelled economic principles affect the way people think in a sort of "does art resemble life, or life resemble art" paradox. An example of this might be: why do we personify the economy? Discuss it as being weak, strong, healthy or otherwise; and when did the economy, however defined, become more important than welfare or morality?

Personally, I get more out of some biographical and historical works than out of plain economics books. For examples, I would highly recommend:
The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance by Paul Strathern.
Here you see that the Renaissance was actually due to the philanthropy of one very wealthy man with a very guilty conscience because he knew that usury is a mortal sin, and he was banker to the pope (and some of his descendants were popes), head of the church whose doctrine at that time was still that usury is a mortal sin. Their proteges included Michaelangelo, Leanardo da Vinci, Galileo and many more.

But it is clear the author meant 'godfathers' also in the Al Pacino sense. Thugs, but then it was an age of thugs. A very Italian story.

Abdassamad Clarke

09-08-2007, 05:39 PM	#18
highattainlet Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 413 Senior Member	Interesting! I'm planning on doing a module next semester on the history of economics and economic thought; it's something I've been trying to get into for a while. Anny suggested reading you have would be appreciated. I think there's a very strong link between economic theory and the behaviour of people which is quite intangible - I'm certain that, to some degree, modelled economic principles affect the way people think in a sort of "does art resemble life, or life resemble art" paradox. An example of this might be: why do we personify the economy? Discuss it as being weak, strong, healthy or otherwise; and when did the economy, however defined, become more important than welfare or morality? Personally, I get more out of some biographical and historical works than out of plain economics books. For examples, I would highly recommend: The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance by Paul Strathern. Here you see that the Renaissance was actually due to the philanthropy of one very wealthy man with a very guilty conscience because he knew that usury is a mortal sin, and he was banker to the pope (and some of his descendants were popes), head of the church whose doctrine at that time was still that usury is a mortal sin. Their proteges included Michaelangelo, Leanardo da Vinci, Galileo and many more. But it is clear the author meant 'godfathers' also in the Al Pacino sense. Thugs, but then it was an age of thugs. A very Italian story. Abdassamad Clarke
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