Scribner Seminar Program
Course Description
Competition
Instructors: Patrick Reilly, Economics
Competition is a powerful force that leads to both destruction and creation. Competition in nature leads to extinction for some species, but it is the source of evolution, which creates beauty, diversity and better-adapted populations through natural selection. Competition between nations can result in the destruction of war, or it may spur discovery like setting foot on the moon. Competition in business leads to bankruptcy and ruin for some but creates job opportunities for workers and useful products for consumers. Competition and rivalry in sports, at work or at school elicits effort but may also spark illicit behavior. Competing can be fun and exciting; even watching competition whether it be sports, baking, or designing clothes provides entertainment. However, the pressure competitors place on themselves through competition and/or comparison may lead to anxiety and other mental health struggles. In Competition, students will investigate these and other aspects of competition through the lenses of several disciplines including biology, psychology and economics.
Course Offered: