Chaos Definition

King Khshayarsha ( Xerxes ) at the Hellespont

Definition on the edge of chaos... always prone to re-definition, always like Proteus capable of a new face. Like the war in Iraq...always re-define the goal. Thus, we never lose. If we are on the verge of disaster, we re-define our objectives and demonstrate that we have accomplished them. Since the movie 300, we know more about Greek history. Xerxes, the Persian despot, wanted to subjugate Greece in his second invasion. He wanted a satrapy on the European continent. As time went on, the fortunes of war changed and the fates were unkind to Xerxes' plan. The Persian did sack Athens and burn it. Xerxes said his goal was to punish the Greeks - particularly the Athenians - and to terrify them so they would never cross the Persians again. Then he pulled out and returned home. By re-defining his goal, Xerxes snatched a minor victory from the jaws of defeat. Our time is the time of chaos...no true definitions...how very Confucian it all sounds. Economics is the science of chaotic economic systems. The best thing in Economics is to catch the elusive Economy as it is about to change shape. There is no science. There is informed art and faith, surrounded by Mathematics.

This could be quite fine...if the practitioners believed in art and faith.