Economic Science and the Austrian Method_3

Hans-Hennann Hoppeby an actor reveals that he places a relatively higher value onit than on any other goal of action he could conceive of atthe start of his action.It is neither evident nor observable that in order toachieve his most highly valued goal an action must interfereor decide not to interfere (which, of course, is also aninterference) at an earlier point in time to produce somelater result; nor that such interferences invariably imply theemployment of some scarce means (at least those of theactor's bod); its standing room and the time absorbed by theinterference).It is neither self-evident nor can it be observed that thesemeans must also have value for an actor-a value derivedfrom that of the goal-because the actor must regard theiremployment as necessary in order to effectively achieve thegoal; and that actions can only be performed sequentiall);always involving the making ofa choice, i.e., taking up thatone course of action which at some given point in timepromises the most highly valued result to the actor andexcluding at the same time the pursuit ofother, less highlyvalued goals.It is not automatically clear or observable that as aconsequence ofhaving to choose and give preference to onegoal over another-of not being able to realize all goalssimultaneously-each and every action implies the incurrenceofcosts. For example, forsaking the value attached tothe most highly valued alternative goal that cannot berealized or whose realization must be deferred because themeans necessary to effect it are bound up in the productionof another, even more highly valued goal.And last!); it is not plainly evident or observable that atits starting point every goal of action must be consideredThe Ludwig von Mises Institute • 23