# Homo Economicus ## What makes us human? The ability to trade and exchange things of value in one dimension for things which are valuable to us in another dimension - Wheat in exchange for stone - A show of sympathy through the loss of a loved one in exchange for mutual support - A bit of extra work to store food in exchange for an easier ## The unit of interaction for humans is a transaction A transaction is a consensual exchange of resources or values by observing parties ### What makes something consensual? ![[Etymology of the word Consensual.png]] All parties who participate in the trade agree to the terms of the trade ## Why do we do things? See [[On Motivation]] , [[Economics/Notes on thought and motivation/On Procrastination]] ## Why do we deviate from rational behavior? See [[_The Art of Thinking Clearly]]