----------------- HES POSTING ----------------- 
Bill Williams asks for evidence that individuals perceive utility and he doubts that it
can be provided. It seems to me that acceptance of the assumption that individuals
perceive utility is a prerequisite for entry in the club of economists. Why would Bill
raise any question about it?
 
I take it (1) that the main interest of economics is the market economy and (2) that
economists since Adam Smith (and before of course) have described it by referring to the
choices of actors. Since the marginal utility revolution of the late 19th century, they
have used the word "utility" to refer to that which motivates the choice of one
alternative over another. So what is the problem, Bill? Do you have in mind some new kind
of economics?
 
Pat Gunning 
 
 
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