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1、PrintableformatforBastiat:SelectedEssays,Chapter1,WhatIsSeenandWhatIsNo...Page1of42PrintableformatforFAQ:PrintHintshttp://www.econlib.org/library/Bastiat/basEss1.htmlSelectedEssaysonPoliticalEconomyBastiat,Frédéric(1801-1850)CEE1WhatIsSeenandWhatIsNo
2、tSeen**11.1Intheeconomicsphereanact,ahabit,aninstitution,alawproducesnotonlyoneeffect,butaseriesofeffects.Oftheseeffects,thefirstaloneisimmediate;itappearssimultaneouslywithitscause;itisseen.Theothereffectsemergeonlysubsequently;theyarenotseen;wearef
3、ortunateifweforeseethem.1.2Thereisonlyonedifferencebetweenabadeconomistandagoodone:thebadeconomistconfineshimselftothevisibleeffect;thegoodeconomisttakesintoaccountboththeeffectthatcanbeseenandthoseeffectsthatmustbeforeseen.1.3Yetthisdifferenceistrem
4、endous;foritalmostalwayshappensthatwhentheimmediateconsequenceisfavorable,thelaterconsequencesaredisastrous,andviceversa.Whenceitfollowsthatthebadeconomistpursuesasmallpresentgoodthatwillbefollowedbyagreateviltocome,whilethegoodeconomistpursuesagreat
5、goodtocome,attheriskofasmallpresentevil.1.4Thesamething,ofcourse,istrueofhealthandmorals.Often,thesweeterthefirstfruitofahabit,themorebitterareitslaterfruits:forexample,debauchery,sloth,prodigality.Whenamanisimpressedbytheeffectthatisseenandhasnotyet
6、learnedtodiscerntheeffectsthatarenotseen,heindulgesindeplorablehabits,notonlythroughnaturalinclination,butdeliberately.1.5Thisexplainsman'snecessarilypainfulevolution.Ignorancesurroundshimathiscradle;therefore,heregulateshisactsaccordingtotheirfirstc
7、onsequences,theonlyonesthat,inhisinfancy,hecansee.Itisonlyafteralongtimethathelearnstotakeaccountoftheothers.**2Twoverydifferentmastersteachhimthislesson:experienceandforesight.Experienceteachesefficaciouslybutbrutally.Itinstructsusinalltheeffectsofa
8、nactbymakingusfeelthem,andwecannotfailtolearneventually,fromhavingbeenburnedourselves,thatfireburns.Ishouldprefer,insofaraspossible,toreplacethisrudeteacherwithonemoregentle:foresight.ForthatreasonIshallinvestigatetheconsequencesofseveraleconomicphen