The Worldly Revolution

The Worldly Revolution

The "Economic Revolution" mentioned by Robert Heilbronner in his book, The Worldly Philosophers, describes the transitional stages of the European economic system, from uniformed feudalism to diversified capitalism. In addition, with the vital birth of capitalism, revolutionary ideas and concepts were being introduced to further explain its intrinsic properties. These eventually paved the way for further clarification and understanding of modern economic studies and practices. Professor Heilbronner places extensive emphasis on the discussions of physical resources and the factors of production, such as land, labor, and capital to highlight the transitional stages from feudalism to capitalism. Nevertheless, in modern economics, the shift in focus rests upon the idea of maximizing profits/revenues by knowing how to properly allocate resources among research & development, care and satisfy employees, and balance the financial "cook book".

In Zodiak: The Game of Business Finance and Strategy, the primary objective is to generate a great deal of profits while minimizing effective costs for the shareholders. However, this idea would have been considered blasphemous prior to the "Economic Revolution", Heilbronner writes, "The idea of 'making a living' had not yet come into being. Economic life and social life were one and the same thing. Work was not yet a means to an end - the end being money and the things it buys. Work was end in itself, encompassing, of course, money and commodities, but engaged in as a part of a tradition, as a natural way of life" (Heilbroner, 1999, p. 26). Therefore, it is apparent that the concept of an economic gain - profit as viewed in light of the time - is regarded as a "heinous crime: he has made over a sixpence profit on the shilling, an outrageous gain. The court is debating whether to excommunicate him for his sin, but in view of his spotless past it finally relents and dismisses him with a fine of two hundred pounds" (Heilbroner, 1999, p. 22-23). Moreover, the notion that one should strive to attain the best return for his/her investment by being more efficient and ascertaining a niche in a particular market is often frowned upon or restricted by the governing body, "The 'wonderworkshop' - reputedly containing two hundred looms and a service staff including butchers and bakers to take care of the working force - was thereupon out-lawed by His Majesty; such efficiency and concentration of wealth would set a bad precedent" (Heilbroner, 1999, p. 29). As a result, the "'Economic Revolution' brings about a "self-reproducing, self-sufficient world erupted into the bustling, scurrying, free-for-all of the eighteenth century" (Heilbroner, 1999, p. 29).

Research and Development is of the uttermost important in any industry. In Zodiak, it helps in many ways such as the ability to bring about new product and/or drastically improve current ones. Therefore, the ability for any company to bring into the market a remarkable product, far superior than the competition, will result in increased profit and the longevity of the company. This is not always the case, Heilbronner explains, "The capitalists of the day face a disturbing challenge that the widening market mechanism has inevitably brought in its wake: change. The question has come up whether a guild master of the weaving industry should be allowed to try an innovation in his product" (Heilbroner, 1999, p. 30). The idea of innovation or change will always meet with rigid resistance because of the uncertainty and risk-factor element. However, to ease the process, experimentation must be done to challenge the uncertainty as noticed, "The precapitalist era saw the birth of the printing press, the paper mill, the windmill, the mechanical clock, the map, and a host of other inventions. The idea of invention itself took hold; experimentation and innovation were looked on for the first time with a friendly eye" (Heilbroner, 1999, p. 36). Research and Development plays a crucial element in any company today, as it