Method

There are two methods, one of the physical sciences and one of man.  There is not more than one logic.  To apply the method of the physical sciences to man is exceptionally unscientific.  In the physical sciences: stones, molecules, planets, etc., do not have free will as the individual does.  Only the individual thinks and acts.  This does not mean “society” or the “collective” acts.  They are each made up of acting individuals.  Neither of those are an organism or individuals.  It is the height of arrogance to think you can shape individuals.

Only the individual can act to bring about some condition in the immediate, near, or distant future.  Now, these actions may not lead to what the individual desires, the future is uncertain, and man is not omniscient.  Man can make errors.  He must learn.  This is not to say everyone will have the same action.  Two people may have different actions or ideas under the same conditions.  The same individual may have different ideas and actions under the same conditions at different times.  There is only one method for the science of man and its categorically different from the physical sciences.

The individual thinks and does not act in the same way a molecule will.   Yes, mindless matter will behave in a certain way, but everyone reading this has a mind and free will—he has a conscience.  To reject this is commonly called social engineering.  The very idea that individuals can be shaped with: models, measurement, scientific methods, etc., is to deny free will and place one individual over another.  Human action is always a variable.  They cannot make a constant when everything is a variable.  Humans are not chess pieces, they have brains.

The market is not a living organism.  It is the interaction of any number of individuals.  Terms such as: the public good, society, social welfare, social justice, etc., are nothing more than terms for describing individuals interacting.  It is impossible that these “builders” can make, any of these terms, better.  I’m not saying one cannot have more and another less.  If the “builder” thinks someone should be paid more, he is free to step in and pay that individual what he wants.  It’s the same if the “builder” thinks a good is too expensive, he is free to produce that good and sell if for less.  What the “builder” is really saying: I think otherwise so I’m going to use force to adjust things to my vision.

It is fundamental that all humans act.  We cannot predict the future so we must anticipate what it may be if we take certain actions.  Humans’ have a conscience.  Therefore, the true science of man is action, and it is unscientific and arrogant to think you can make a variable a constant.  It is also the use of force to try to put this in practice with the use of the coldest of all cold monsters.  Humans will always act.

Reference

Murray Rothbard; The Mantle of Science