The College Professor’s Compendium of Laws, Theorems, and

Concepts with Support Sources

Joel Charles Snell

Professor Emeritus, Kirkwood College

        This article is based on the assumption that although there are thousands of laws, theorems and concepts dealing with human behavior, the ones sited in this article appear to be some of the most important and most likely to occur in the classroom and similar arenas. The compendium can be used in the classroom presentation along with this article. This reinforcement is meant to support the professor’s presentation relative to the laws; others may disagree.

Introduction

        The author maintains that social science is less stringent and that the phrase, social methodologies, is more appropriate for this article. Additionally, the title does not contain any words that connotatively or denotatively suggest the determinism that emerges from hard science. Further, hard science begins with ratio numbers that can be counted and mathematically manipulated. Social methodologies may want to assume hard number theory, but it is a giant leap. Ioannidis and his graduate students have discovered that many studies published in prestigious journals, when recalculated with other than hard numbers, indicate false positives.

        Ten quotes will be presented followed by five that are in an addendum. Other sources will also be introduced. The choice is made on the basis of the use of them throughout the literature. Although one may disagree, one will probably accept most of them for certain settings.

        What gave the social methodologies the jump to science rather than a soft status is the Big Data era in the early 70’s when advances in computers were able to aggregate large quantities of numbers. Thus, software for multiple regression analysis was introduced, and it assumes hard numbers. Vast numbers of a sample or the entire population could be assembled, manipulated, and analyzed. Even dummy variables are treated as hard numbers. Of course, we are not opposed to social science research (multiple regression or analysis of variance) when all the variables are ratio (Snell & Marsh, 2012).

        Publications flourished when multiple regression analysis was used in studies. Further, forward solution, stepwise, and path analysis were pinnacles of the field. However, a new movement is to encourage a return to soft analysis that is subject to clarity and validity. When the computer can generate numbers from aggregate data that includes variables that range from nominal to ratio numbers, it is likely to be flawed. Thus, computer print outs have always included analysis of variance which need all ratio numbers to the less powerful but more accurate in including all variables, chi-square. To this author, it appears to be the most useful and faithfully valid (Snell, 2014).

        However, when the 10 quotes listed below claim to be laws, please recall the reservations indicated above. The author has tried to put some order to the quotes. Further, the word usage has been changed to make them more understandable. It is the author’s belief that the 10 chosen quotes best represent reality. Out of the thousands of quotes, these appear paramount. Of course, others may disagree.

Quote #1: Past is prologue.  This statement originally came from Shakespeare, but many others have also made similar statements. What this means is that history has a way of repeating itself. However, the repetition is not exactly the same. There are numerous other variables along with new names and faces. The general recognition of the outcome is very similar. Examples are deregulated, supply side, and trickledown theories which were approaches in the early 80’s that were quite similar to economics of the 20’s. It gave rise from the 80’s onward to conditions that caused the recession in 2008. It replaced Keynesian economics of the 30’s through the 70’s (Shakespeare, W., The Tempest, Act 2, Scene 1).

Quote #2: Future plans are hypotheses or the best laid plans can be turned astray. Best plans are still hypotheses. Again, many have said this, but it has also come from more recent analysis of chaos theory. The best explanation is that the smallest change in one area can over time dramatically change the original plan. In modernism, that which did not fit in the Cartesian plan was considered noise or extraneous. It is called an “outlier.” However, it has been acknowledged at the time of this writing that tiny variables may work their will in the long run. For example: Edward Lorenz, in the 60’s, discovered wind patterns which became a first discovery. By dropping off the 6^th decimal in measuring wind flow, over time, the pattern will head in another direction suggesting that little things mean a lot. Mitchell Feigenbaum, in 1974, was able to ascertain the scaling factor and became the founder of Chaos Theory (Snell, Cangemi, & Kowalski, 2008).

Quote #3: Things perceived as real, can become real in their consequences. This is called the Thomas theorem from sociology. If most truly believed that the Russians (old USSR) with its first space shot also indicated that this 2^nd of 3^rd world country would beat the U.S. in all other things, then the U.S. should head to the moon. This was also hyped by the CIA who knew better. Additionally, the USSR did finally collapse. It is now a powerful country in terms of weaponry, but a fascist rather than a communist country as Americans use the term. In another example, after World War II many thought in the years ahead, the USA would become a modern day Uptopia based on technological advances. As this is written, that has not happened. These cultural beliefs are sometimes called meta-narratives or self-fulfilling prophecies (Thomas & Thomas, 1928).

Quote #4: Each has his price. This saying originates from no one source and is called a proverb. It has many strategies, first is a bribe. The second is a bribe in which money will go to one’s charitable cause or related. The third portion is the direct threat of death to a friend. The last is death to one’s loved ones, friends, and countrymen. This could be a lengthy discussion, but essentially this is the basic. A tiny few can resist this (McGraw Hill Dictionary of Idioms and Phrasal Verbs, 2002).

Quote #5: The few over the many. Robert Michels in his 1915 Political Parties observed that even the most democratic organization had a few that inadvertently ran the organization or if competitively a few gained the most and worked to maintain it. It is called the Iron Law of Oligarch (Michels, 1915).

Quote #6: Wages tend toward subsistence. Over a long period of time the ruling class hires professionals who can create conditions to job segment, automate, outsource or lower the least amount of salary that one worker can live on. This generates continually upward profits for owners and or shareholders. Further, it reduces the amount of competition to monopolies, duopolies or related. Owners struggle against each other until there is imperfect competition. Companies go under due to the criminal actions of a competitor (kickbacks, industrial espionage) or the tremendous growth of the other competitor. Allegedly, huge trust may be divided by national governments or nationalized. However, that is not likely (Lassalle, 1863).

Quote #7: Circulation of the elites.The ruling class, once it passes into death or the ages, transfers their property to their children. Trust-fund babies may not have the confidence or talent to carry on, thus lose the power, money, and prestige of the family name. Thus, the children receive titles and are surrounded by talent that can “cover” their mistakes. For the elite, they must bring in new talent from below. Further, this new talent demonstrates that there is always room for those who support the system and try to work hard. When a family has been powerful for three generations they become “old money.” Vilfredo Pareto (1901) noted: Circulation does not always work so the system becomes exclusive and the masses feel it and are crushed (fascism). The point is that humanitarians can survive if they can win or buy off the masses. Most folks are part of the masses and have nice titles to stratify themselves.

Quote #8: 80/20 Distribution. According to Pareto’s principles, 80% of wealth is owned by the top 20%. Eighty percent of the problems are generated by 20% of the customers. Whatever the human phenomena, it appears that the division or distribution divides along these two percentage numbers. (This came from the Father of Fascism, Vilfredo Pareto, in 1911. See footnote in Quote #7).

Quote #9: Supply and demand appear to be related. When there is perfect competition, supply and demand hit certain set points for human exchange. If one or the other changes, then the exchange goes upward or downward depending on other variables. However, in most advanced societies, market behavior can be manipulated or price fix emerges. (No one source is responsible for this well-known quote. See Investopedia.com).

Quote #10: Workers unite. If one does not come from privilege, he sells his labor to a much larger force. Workers can be hired or fired at will. Generally, workers identify with the elite and have a false consciousness. When workers overlook race, ethnicity, sex, and other divisions below the ruling class, they can have tremendous power. Using Hegel’s Dialect (thesis-antithesis-synthesis) Marx applied this to social class struggle. Although the elite usually win, a general coalition of workers can change a system. Marx then became a Marxist Revisionist. After saying, “I am not a Marxist,” his critique transcended his earlier solutions. He moved to a market economy and the creation of guilds or unions. Part of the means of production was public. Portions of Marx are everywhere today. They have become democratic socialists, social democrats, Liberals, Fabians, and others in parliamentary democracies. Revolutionaries called Marxist are really Maoists, Leninists, Stalinists and others. None had met Marx nor did they acknowledge the reformist over the revolutionary statement made earlier in life by him.

        If workers do not become united, the leverage is one person versus a large economic organization. The ruling class, according to Michels (1915), is in all countries, continually plays one individual or group against another. In doing so the masses look sideways rather than up. The USA, in all of its diversity, can play one sector against another. America is the most unequal country among first world countries. In 1965, the difference between the median income of a worker and those in the highest paying jobs was 20 times. Today, it nearly reaches about 204 times Chamberlain, (2015) . To simplify, class struggle to Marx meant organizing to cut the difference between the CEOs, workers and the rest of the population. Additionally, false consciousness and labor-value theory suggest the wage of workers is the most amenable to have a salary cut when taking into account price. Absolute equality and no leadership is out of the question (Marx, 1867).

Summary

        History appears to occur in cycles that are not exactly the same. Plans are made by competing forces and the outcome is not exactly that which is expected. Each plan of action is flavored by the definitions of its actors and the culture. Along the way to change or resistance to change, humans are fallible to bribery and threats and thus changes are altered. Whatever the outcome, the masses may benefit but not control the head of the movement.

        As time moves on, the few discover how many benefits come with their position and to enhance the power and growth of adherents, wages through various strategies no longer keep up with inflation. Bonuses go to those at the top. The powerful reproduce and their progeny may be much less talented for the family to maintain its advantages. Thus, new entrants are welcomed into the top elite for their talent and the illusion that anyone can make it to the top given hard work and risk. Trust-fund children or second-generation children move into non-powerful, but important sounding positions within the company. Over time, two percentages keep reappearing: 80% and 20%. Generally, the key figure is the 20%. The 20% may make the most contributions, or cause the most problems in productions and resources the corporations provide. In the most democratic society there is till the 80/20 split (Pareto, 1901).

        In a perfect competitive market, supply and demand are related. However, in large organizations that tend to monopolize the market, supply and demand are less related. The majority of the population in almost any society has little power but gain a great deal over a short period of time, when organized.

Addendum

        Other quotes that appear viable, but did not make the list are the following: #11 Fools rush in, where wise men fear to tread. One should use caution. #12 the Peter Principle, one is promoted to a new position in which they don’t do very well. Why? They did so well in their last position. Others thought that they should be able to handle a new more powerful position. The individual struggles and remains in place. Murphy’s law. #14 It is a sure thing. This is a promise that the future cannot always be decided by the present and knowledge of the present. #15 The Double Standard. Women must be accountable in all things, especially which is morally correct. This does not necessarily apply to men. The comparison may also apply to minorities.

Other Sources

        The Internet provides numerous other information and sources. There are quotes, sayings, laws, theorems and related. There are so many that as an author, I would invite you to try Wikipedia first and then move on from there. You may want to follow Wikipedia with the McGraw Hill Idioms and Phrasal Verbs as indicated in the Selected References.

Selected References

Chamberlain, A (2015)CEO to Workers Pay Ratio: Average CEO 204 Times Median Worker Pay, Glassdoor.Com.

Lasalle, F. (1863). Offenes Antwortshreiben. Retrieved from http://www.marxist.org/deutsch/referenz/lasalle/1863/03/antworschrieben.html

Marx, K. (1867). Das Kapital. Germany: Verlag von Otto Mesiner. Berlin.

McGraw Hill Dictionary of Idioms and Phrasal Verbs (2002. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.

Michels, R. (1915). A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of a Modern Democracy. New York, NY: The Free Press.

Pareto, V. (1901). Rivista Italiana al Sociologica, pp. 402-456. University Press, Rome.

Shakespeare, W. (n.d.). The Tempest, Act 2, Scene 1. Boston, MA:McGraw-Hill.

Snell, J. Cangemi, J.P., & Kowalski, C.J. (2008). Social Essays on Chaos Theory. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.

Snell, J., & Marsh, M. (2012). Multiple regression and its discontents. Education, 517-521.  Mobile, Alabama.

Thomas, W.I., & Thomas, D.S. (1928). The Child in America: Behavior Problems and Programs. New York, NY: Knopf.

Investopedia.com