Thales of Miletus, a Greek philosopher, made important discoveries in geometry and careful observations of the frequency of natural events. His prediction of the solar eclipse in 585 BC was described by Isaac Asimov as 'the birth of science'. Thales also used his scientific knowledge to anticipate an especially plentiful olive harvest. He bought options on all the olive presses in Miletus, and when demand soared he rented them out at a substantial profit. According to Aristotle, Thales' motive was not primarily pecuniary; he aimed to provide an answer to the question so often thrown at philosophers and economists: 'If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?"
-John Kay and Mervyn King: Radical Uncertainty: Decision-Making Beyond The Numbers
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment