Adam Smith famously stated that in economics prices were set by the invisible hand of supply and demand. Now what if in the 21st century, we were to automate that hand.
Watch the price of a scholarly treatise on fruit flies go to $23,000,000 with no human intervention at all, beyond the initial price setting algorithm.
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There's a similar issue with Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. He is considered the father of capitalism - but difference between today's rhetoric of "capitalism this, capitalism that" versus what he actually pronounced in the book is worlds apart.
I wouldn't be surprised if some right wingers would call Adam Smith socialist in these current times.
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I can't blame people for not reading On the Origin of Species, Wealth of Nations, The Divine Comedy, The Leviathan, On War or any of the other old books I've tried, and usually failed, to read. It's a real grind trying to read a book for an audience that spoke and thought differently than we do now. That's part of the reason for reading them in the first place, but it just consumes so much mental energy.
I can't blame them unless they name an institute after the author that the author himself would think was full of crap. I'm looking at you Adam Smith Institute. Them I can blame. Heartily.
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