The true magic of the genies in stories such as “Arabian Nights” seems to be less their power to fulfill any request than their ability to do so at no cost. As human characters demonstrate throughout these folktales, achieving one’s desires — riches, love, fame — takes work, endurance, gumption, and some luck. A genie, however, can accomplish anything in mere seconds, literally on command. To a genie’s master, there are no scarcities, no opportunity costs, no trade-offs. The master need not expend any energy — not in bringing goods to market nor in courting a princess — beyond voicing a request to his supernatural servant.
Read Full Article »
