• Mwalimu@baraza.africa
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    1 year ago

    Hard science — inquiry into the nature of the “hard materials” like rocks.

    Social science — inquiry into shared meanings on the material stuff around us, including the “hard materials” like mountains, and “soft intangible stuff” like taboos and beliefs, prices, and demand.

    A lot of people assume “hard” means the serious stuff and social science as the easy and abstract stuff. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    Economics is a social science. Sadly, the fascination with it being “hard” is largely to be seen as the cool tough stuff. Inferiority complex, if you may.

      • Mistic@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I would actually love to hear you elaborate on that.

        In what way sociologists work harder than economists?

        I’d argue that when it comes to science, you can’t study economics without studying sociology and politics. Because then you will be lacking context. Wouldn’t that mean more research?

        In fact, how do you define “hard work”?

        I’m acually curious, it’s an interesting topic.