I think we agree on the “broad brush” aspects of the problem (in particular that it’s really about the specifics here).
Thank you for the example of fashionable materials science lectures, I now agree on that point.
The specifics here are interesting, though, so I’ll take it further.
Discounting values for path-dependency has an appealing elegance, but as a general principle it is, I think, unsound. Any value that saturates has such a path-dependence: I enjoy eating, then I become full, then I no longer enjoy eating. I enjoy learning about linear algebra, then I master it, then I no longer enjoy learning about linear algebra. If you appeal to the underlying value of “not being hungry” or “learning new mathematics” then I can equally appeal to “enjoying fashionable music”.
That ignores the specific social component of bandwagons, though, which I have already said that I agree with you on.
I think we agree on the “broad brush” aspects of the problem (in particular that it’s really about the specifics here).
Thank you for the example of fashionable materials science lectures, I now agree on that point.
The specifics here are interesting, though, so I’ll take it further.
Discounting values for path-dependency has an appealing elegance, but as a general principle it is, I think, unsound. Any value that saturates has such a path-dependence: I enjoy eating, then I become full, then I no longer enjoy eating. I enjoy learning about linear algebra, then I master it, then I no longer enjoy learning about linear algebra. If you appeal to the underlying value of “not being hungry” or “learning new mathematics” then I can equally appeal to “enjoying fashionable music”.
That ignores the specific social component of bandwagons, though, which I have already said that I agree with you on.