As my preceding posts relate, I’ve been listening to a series of podcasts originating from Dr. Kelly Blanchard’s Introduction to Principles of Economics class at Purdue University. I am intrigued by the concepts I am hearing about. Some of the concepts I do claim to be learning about as well, though at a casual level that would not survive even the gentle rigors of an early quiz. Is anything of value happening, beyond the salutary spectacle of a fool rushing in where experts (newly warned by my example) would not dare to tread?

I think so, obviously, but I also need to clarify that thought.

I claim no rigorous learning from my little podcast-and-blog experiment. I claim absolutely no expertise in the subject whatsoever. I’ve never undertaken a course of study in economics. I am, however, intrigued by the concepts I’m hearing about. (Bears repeating.) I am learning some things, if only some terminology, and understanding a few of those things dimly enough to keep stumbling on, to realize the potential value of this way of looking at the world, to want to ask questions, to want to be in conversation. I blog about my experience to create a beginning learner’s diary seasoned by the more sophisticated reflections of a putative expert in one field who is most assuredly non-expert in this field.

It is disappointing but perhaps should not be surprising to learn of experts who have resolved, on the basis of the mistakes I’ve recorded here without editing away the traces (of the ones I’ve caught, anyway), never to try such an experiment themselves by blogging on, say, a Milton studies podcast. Too much risk of public blundering.

That’s a shame. I’m always up for a conversation about Milton.