Hearing this, many people frowned slightly and thought about it.

And yet - still incomprehensible.

For what Ye Yu said just now, they felt incomprehensible!

Well, I admit, science is not truth, but why is it not the truth that science is after?

Why isn't science right?

Why does science need to be "likely to be overturned by facts"?

In other words, science doesn't go after what is absolutely right?

Hey, it seems a bit acceptable to say this, but just because it's acceptable doesn't mean it's understandable!

I still can't figure out why!!

If you don't understand, you have to ask questions, which is a good habit, so someone asks.

"Ye Yu, you said just now that science is not the truth. I couldn't agree with that, because that's always been what I thought about, but then you said that science isn't about right, it's not about truth, and that science needs to be 'possible to be overturned by facts,' and you think that's the most important point. I don't understand your view, can you please explain it in detail? ”

The person asking the question sat in the front row.

As soon as he opened his mouth, he immediately caused a burst of exclamations.

People who didn't know who he was were surprised because that was where the teacher was.

Those who knew who he was were even more surprised, because he was the deputy dean of the Faculty of Economics!

Of course, at the same time of surprise, many people also have sincere admiration.

Isn't it enough to ask an 18-year-old boy a question, and the tone is not prickly, but humbly asks for advice?

How many teachers can do this kind of thing?

Sometimes, humbly seeking advice does not make people feel shallow and looked down upon, but it makes people feel that he is open-minded.

Of course, this kind of person generally doesn't think so much about it when he asks for advice.

If you don't understand, just ask.

Some people are actually quite simple.

I heard a question. Ye Yu glanced at the questioner.

It's a teacher, a little older, sitting in the center of the first row, thinking about a high status.

As for the name. Ye Yu didn't know.

This is the school's auditorium, not a lecture hall or anything, he is a little far away from the audience, although there is an identity tag with his name written in front of the person, but from Ye Yu's position. Can not see clearly.

Ye Yu smiled slightly.

Don't be ashamed to ask, this little old man is a standard scholar.

A person in his fifties or sixties asks an 18-year-old boy for advice, and a teacher at Xianshui University asks a senior high school student for advice.

What Ye Yu said just now, the previous argument about "science is not truth" is his own opinion, and the last sentence "science is not seeking right or wrong...... is from Zhang Wuchang's "Economic Explanation".

Zhang Wuchang, this person, if he doesn't study economics. Probably a lot of people don't know.

Even, for some people, it is not as familiar as some of the so-called "experts" that are often seen on TV.

But he should be the first person to push Chinese economists!

He was a close disciple of Alchin, the founder of modern property economics.

He had close personal relationships with Coase, Bazel, Friedman, and others.

He was invited to the Nobel Prize ceremony in 1991 as the only economist not to have won a Nobel Prize.

He was elected president of the Western Economic Association in 1997-1998, the first honor to be given to an economist outside the United States.

He does not like to build mathematical models, and even hates reading literature, he believes that economics is a study of world affairs, and respects real-world economics. Of course, this may have something to do with his poor math.

He had scandals - tax evasion, counterfeiting of antique shops in which he had invested shares.

He sometimes likes to boast about himself (because of this, many people don't believe in the parts of him that he doesn't boast about).

He was arrogant and overjoyed.

Yang Xiaokai commented in "Also Talking about Zhang Wuchang": "Like Zhang Wuchang, he doesn't pay attention to literature. He can create so many new things himself, and he is indeed a genius. It is believed that he did not pay attention to building mathematical models, so much so that he gave up the Nobel Prize in economics to someone else, because the original idea of the 2001 Nobel laureate in economics Stiglitz came from Zhang Wuchang's paper on the theory of tenant rent.

As for who Yang Xiaokai is, an Australian Chinese economist. He has been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Economics twice (2002 and 2003) and is known as the "closest Chinese to the Nobel Prize in Economics". Unfortunately, God was jealous of the talent and died of cancer in 2004.

Zhang Wuchang, quite a controversial person.

Some people criticize him, thinking that he is worthless, and others admire him. Call him a master.

Even Ye Yu felt that he took it for granted and detached from reality in some places when he got old, but Ye Yu still liked his "Economic Explanation".

Ye Yu said: "The science I just mentioned refers to scientific theories. Scientific theories need to be 'likely to be disproved by facts' because theories need explanatory power. Theories that cannot be overturned by facts cannot be verified by facts, and they have no explanatory power! Therefore, the theory needs the possibility of being overturned by the facts, at least, in the imagination, it can be wrong!

It's not just people from the School of Economics who are here to listen to the lecture today, so here, I'm going to take physics as an analogy that everyone is familiar with.

In physics, there is a very basic formula, F=m*a, and the magnitude of the external force is equal to the mass multiplied by the acceleration. It has the potential to be overturned by facts, because it can be experimentally verified, and if someone does an experiment and finds that the equation is not true, it is overturned. But in fact, it was not overthrown. Of course, to be precise, in the micro realm, it has actually been overturned. But in the macro realm, it may have been overturned by facts but not overturned, so it is confirmed.

And there are still some theories in this world, which cannot be overturned by facts!

In this regard, I think there are a total of five situations in which a theory cannot be overturned by facts, thus nullifying the explanatory power of the theory!

They are logical, ambiguous, contradictory, non-factual, and unlimited!

First of all, set the logic. The so-called set logic refers to those theories that cannot be wrong and cannot be wrong under any circumstances. ”

Speaking of which. Ye Yu suddenly said: "Students of the School of Economics, please raise your hand!" ”

Glancing at the classmates who raised their hands, Ye Yu casually clicked on someone and said, "Let me ask you a question." Is the theory that 'quadrupeds have four legs' true or false? ”

"Of course it's true." Said the classmate who was clicked.

"That's right. This theory is correct. Not only is it right, it can't be wrong. It won't be wrong in the auditorium of Xianshui University, it won't be wrong in our Huaxia, it won't be wrong in the United States, and it won't be wrong in Mars. Anywhere in the universe, it can't be wrong! Even, in the imagination, it can't be wrong! Because the second half of the theory only explains the first half. There's nothing wrong with this theory, but what does it say? No, nothing! Empty, lacking in content, and not at all explanatory! Ye Yu said.

Hearing this, many people showed a slight look of disappointment and disdain.

What kind of logic did Ye Yu put forward in a matter, and the result was such a simple and easy-to-understand thing?

Something like this. Everybody knows that! When you run into it, you can clearly know that it's meaningless!

What's the point of you just giving it a name? That's disappointing, isn't it?

And those reporters who were waiting to see Ye Yu make a fool of himself couldn't help but show joy.

Ye Yu's remarks before, what he said "science is not about seeking right", what "science needs to be 'may be overturned by facts'", and what "the explanatory power of theory" is not clear!

Scared them all!!

I thought this trip was in vain, but it turned out to be ......

Hahaha! I got something that sounded like something amazing, and it turned out to be such a stupid thing?!

Ye Yu didn't care, and continued: "I'll ask you another question. 'Passerby A committed suicide by jumping off a building because he was pursuing the maximization of his own interests'! Is this theory correct? ”

Ye Yu's second question confused many people.

Jumping off a building in pursuit of maximizing self-interest?

This. This, why is this so awkward and weird!

This is nonsense, okay!

"That's not right!" The classmate who was clicked replied subconsciously.

Ye Yu smiled and reminded: "You should think about one of the most basic assumptions in economics. ”

Hearing Ye Yu's reminder, the classmate thought about it carefully. Suddenly realized, he grabbed his hair with some embarrassment, and said, "I'm sorry, this theory is right." ”

"That's right, in economics, there is one of the most basic assumptions. That is the rational homo economicus hypothesis. It believes that people make decisions with the goal of maximizing their own interests. Ye Yu said.

At this time, the teacher who had raised doubts earlier asked: "Ye Yu, the rational economic person hypothesis has a scope of application and is generally applied to economic decision-making, so you don't seem to belong to economic decision-making, right?" ”

Media Fun.

Xianshui University is a Xianshui University in the end, what if you fool the students?

Teachers aren't that easy to fool!

Who told you to put on such a big show and attract the teacher?

It's okay to bring in the teacher, but you still mention such a professional thing, you are dying!

The more professional you are, the harder it is to answer when you are questioned!!

It's still the same sentence - no-zuo, no-die, why-you-try!

"Teacher, the rational homo economicus hypothesis can be extended by the philosophical hierarchy of needs. When we consider non-economic interests, higher-level needs, such as our own pleasure, satisfaction, sense of achievement, etc., into our own interests, we will find that any behavior of a person is in pursuit of the maximization of self-interest! If he sacrifices his life to save others, it must be because he will get greater satisfaction when he sacrifices his life. This kind of altruism actually means wise self-interest. Ye Yu explained.

Hearing Ye Yu's words, the media were about to beep the dog!

Hierarchy of Needs? A higher level of need?

This is actually related to philosophy!

Do you want to do it! Do you want to do it!

Science, philosophy, economics!

What else do you have to say!!

"Hmm." The teacher nodded and stopped talking.

Ye Yu continued: "So I said, this theory is right! Because the phrase 'the pursuit of the maximization of one's own self-interest' itself encompasses all human behavior. Whatever becomes of the first half of this theory, it is right! It can't be wrong! But does it make sense? No! Another question is, 'How about investigating whether the production cost of a private company is the lowest cost that the company can achieve?' ”

"There is no point in this subject." The classmate who stood up said without hesitation, and before Ye Yu could speak, he explained, "Although I think it seems to be quite interesting to study, you must want me to answer 'meaningless'!" ”

Ye Yu was stunned for a moment, smiled, and said, "Clever answer!" Indeed, this topic is meaningless! In the definition of economics, private enterprises must reduce production costs as much as possible in order to maximize profits. The definition itself does not allow for the existence of behaviors that can reduce costs but are deliberately not reduced! So, this is a question that seems to be worth studying, but it is actually a stupid question, and the answer you get is bound to be a stupid one! Because it can't have a second answer, otherwise the definition is violated! You see, in the three examples, the logic of the set is deeper than the other! And these are all very superficial logic, in the real world, the logic is actually very hidden. After all, everyone who is shallow can see it at a glance. ”

In a previous life, a doctoral dissertation at Harvard University was selected as the most outstanding thesis and published in a book that was widely publicized. As a result, it was later pointed out by the famous economist Alchin that the whole paper is a set of logic, which cannot be wrong and has no content.

This incident was extremely embarrassing for Harvard University.

Logic can sometimes be "very profound".

"But the logic of the set is not useless, if you discard it at will, it may sometimes be a lost treasure......"

Ye Yu continued-

Four other situations that make it impossible for a theory to be overturned by facts!

All phenomena must have laws!

Facts cannot be used to explain facts!

Special theory!

The veracity of the theory!

……

In the lecture of more than three hours, Ye Yu talked about economics from scientific methodology, from economic theory to the explanation of economic phenomena in real life, and his mouth was dry!

So...... Dumbfounded!

The students were dumbfounded!

The teachers were dumbfounded!

People watching videos online are dumbfounded!

The media are even more dumbfounded!

――Ye Yute really understands economics!

- (To be continued.) )