We've become obsessed with measuring, quantifying, and rating just about everything
Have you read Late Soviet Britain?
Think the audit society has been with us for a while (M. Powers). And statistics and control surely predates Lenin (İ. Hacking, The Taming of Chance, is very good on this).
I haven't read it but I probably should, since the late-Soviet comparison comes to my mind all the time!
Think it's got some interesting insights but not that good, tbh. Standard academic fare. Dysphoria Mundi, otoh….
Seven times seven is forty-nine, whether it's dirt or daisies.
This sums up (oops!) both the strength and the weakness of thinking with numbers.
Nicely put. Much the same could be said for money, I think. Being anonymous, uniform and fungible has big upsides and big downsides.
Have you read Late Soviet Britain?
Think the audit society has been with us for a while (M. Powers). And statistics and control surely predates Lenin (İ. Hacking, The Taming of Chance, is very good on this).
I haven't read it but I probably should, since the late-Soviet comparison comes to my mind all the time!
Think it's got some interesting insights but not that good, tbh. Standard academic fare. Dysphoria Mundi, otoh….
Seven times seven is forty-nine, whether it's dirt or daisies.
This sums up (oops!) both the strength and the weakness of thinking with numbers.
Nicely put. Much the same could be said for money, I think. Being anonymous, uniform and fungible has big upsides and big downsides.