Peter Boettke’s Exceptional Rant “We have been giving kids As for emoting rather

Peter Boettke’s Exceptional Rant

“We have been giving kids As for emoting rather than thinking since at least 1970 and making sure to never upset their fragile feelings when they are acting stupid, that now they think it is ok to offer mere opinion (rather than informed opinion which they are unable to provide) non-stop.”

“We need to bring back F’s, perhaps even the dunce hat to be worn in the corner. By the way, I was put in that corner on more than one occasion as a kid.”

“When I taught principles of economics, on the first day I used to say to students — I don’t expect you to agree with everything I say in class or what you read in the book, and in fact, I encourage your questions and disagreement. But I want you to know that while it is perfect acceptable to disagree, you must start your disagreement with “I think”, “I would argue”, “I know”.

However, you are NEVER allowed to start “I feel”. I don’t care what you are feeling, I care what you are thinking. We just entered the no feeling zone. This is all about logic and evidence, not about feeling.”

“I don’t teach principles that often anymore so I don’t tell students this since I am teaching primarily graduate students. God help us on that day that I have to actually tell graduate students in economics that how they feel is not what matters in these discussions.”