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It seems that’s there a ghastly Darwinian principle of…

“It seems that’s there a ghastly Darwinian principle of economics known as the Law of Substitution which declares, more or less, that “the cheapest will survive”. This has all sorts of unpleasant consequences, one of which is that non-economic values tend to be eliminated.” quote by J.G. Farrell
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““It seems that’s there a ghastly Darwinian principle of economics known as the Law of Substitution which declares, more or less, that “the cheapest will survive”. This has all sorts of unpleasant consequences, one of which is that non-economic values tend to be eliminated.””

J.G. Farrell

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Economic pressures favor cheapest options, often discarding non‑monetary values.

In simple terms: Cheapest wins, non‑economic values get ignored.

Key Takeaway

Balance cost with ethical and cultural considerations.

Themes

economics value hierarchy market forces ethical trade‑offs

Mood

concerned thoughtful

Type

philosophical critical

When to use this quote

  • business decisions
  • policy making
  • consumer choice
  • resource allocation

Key Concepts

Law of Substitution Darwinian economics value elimination

Questions to Reflect On

  • What values are sacrificed when price dominates?
  • How can we protect non‑economic values?
A Different Perspective

Focusing solely on price can erode social and environmental standards.

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