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'''4. What is the “invisible hand”? Discuss what it is, using an example (which could be from the story in the lecture about the making of a pencil).'''The invisible hand is a force that is unseen by humans but yet still has influence in their lives and guides them to help others without even knowing it, when they are doing something that seemingly is only beneficial to themselves. For example, a child could set up a lemonade stand one a hot summer day because he wants money for a bike. He charges 25 cents per cup. It seems to him that he is the only one gaining from this situation, as he is making money for something he wants. Yet someone driving home in the heat of the summer day is gaining from this by getting a cold drink for only a quarter, versus lets say a soda from a vending machine for $1.25 or more.

'''4. What is the “invisible hand”? Discuss what it is, using an example (which could be from the story in the lecture about the making of a pencil).'''The invisible hand is a force that is unseen by humans but yet still has influence in their lives and guides them to help others without even knowing it, when they are doing something that seemingly is only beneficial to themselves. For example, a child could set up a lemonade stand one a hot summer day because he wants money for a bike. He charges 25 cents per cup. It seems to him that he is the only one gaining from this situation, as he is making money for something he wants. Yet someone driving home in the heat of the summer day is gaining from this by getting a cold drink for only a quarter, versus lets say a soda from a vending machine for $1.25 or more.

'''5. There are many parables by Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (and one in Mark) which use familiar concepts of money and economics in order to teach a deeper, more profound spiritual point. Examples are at Matthew 13:18-23 and 44-46; Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 20:1-16 and 21:33-46; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 14:15-24; Luke 15:8-10; Luke 16:1-13 and 19-31; Luke 18:9-14; and Luke 19:11-27. Pick one of these parables and explain both the economic point and the deeper spiritual point. Extra credit: why might the Gospel of Matthew have more economic parables than the Gospel of Mark does?'''

'''5. There are many parables by Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke (and one in Mark) which use familiar concepts of money and economics in order to teach a deeper, more profound spiritual point. Examples are at Matthew 13:18-23 and 44-46; Matthew 18:21-35; Matthew 20:1-16 and 21:33-46; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 7:36-50; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 14:15-24; Luke 15:8-10; Luke 16:1-13 and 19-31; Luke 18:9-14; and Luke 19:11-27. Pick one of these parables and explain both the economic point and the deeper spiritual point. Extra credit: why might the Gospel of Matthew have more economic parables than the Gospel of Mark does?''' Matthew 13:18-23. Spiritual point: The seed falling on the rocky soil is representing someone who reads the bible, hears what it has to say, claims to agree with it but then when something crosses their path and they have to choose between what they claim to believe or their own way, they go their own way and give into the temptation of the world. Just like the roots will not grow when the seed falls on rocky ground, Christianity will not develop in anyone's life if they do not allow roots to grow. The seed falling on the good soil represents someone that hears the bible and allows it to take over completely and change their life. Economic point: There are opportunities everywhere in life and you can react to them two ways: embrace them wholeheartedly and do your best to make them work out and succeed, or you can get off on a tangent, work at it for a few weeks and then when the going gets hard forget about it, and the opportunity is lost. One very good example would be conservapedia.com itself! The class had the idea to make a website, and they pursued it with passion. When people from all sides started attacking and mocking the idea, instead of giving up, they kept moving forward - and now it is extremely successful with millions of page views!

'''6. "Caveat emptor" or "carpe diem": pick one of these concepts and explain what it means to you.''' "Caveat emptor" meaning "let the buyer beware" when purchasing something new. Let's say I get in the mail a letter saying there's a free t-shirt waiting for me if I just sign this paper and send it in. Before jumping in at the opportunity for something free, I better beware and look for any strings attached like the one year subscription to the magazine the shirt is advertising I am signing up for without even knowing!

'''6. "Caveat emptor" or "carpe diem": pick one of these concepts and explain what it means to you.''' "Caveat emptor" meaning "let the buyer beware" when purchasing something new. Let's say I get in the mail a letter saying there's a free t-shirt waiting for me if I just sign this paper and send it in. Before jumping in at the opportunity for something free, I better beware and look for any strings attached like the one year subscription to the magazine the shirt is advertising I am signing up for without even knowing!