John Rapley

All posts by John Rapley

John is a political economist at the University of Cambridge, as well as a journalist and co-creator of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute in Jamaica. He is the author of Twilight of the Money Gods: Economics as a Religion and How it all Went Wrong (2017).

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Physics Envy Erraticus Image by Roman Mager

Ideas Science & Tech

Economists with Physics Envy Are Harmful

Observing the acclaim physics was having, economists embraced a physical view of human behavior hoping to replicate similar success. However, unlike physics, the social nature of human beings makes any laws of behavior tentative and contextual.

By John Rapley on August 2, 2018

Society & Culture

Truth Is Not Absolute, But That Which Works

A common view of truth aims for that which corresponds with reality. Left with nothing but our own interpretations of the world, Pragmatists, like William James and Charles Peirce, argue that the best we can do is to hold to that which works. Read more

Meaning of Life No Longer Matters to Philosophers

Professional philosophers rarely ask 'What is the meaning of life?' and when they do, they often dismiss it as nonsense. Read more

‘History of White People’ and Dealing with Race Theorists

Nell Irvin Painter's book identifies some of the roots of the inequality we see today, which are based on the antiquated "science" of race theory. We can use the social construct of race to address social injustices, but what do we do with the mixed legacies of race theorists? Read more

Science & Tech