A scientist engages in anthropomorphism when he ascribes human attributes to what is otherwise recognized as inanimate or at least not human. By analogy we may say that an economist engages in mechanomorphism when he ascribes mechanical properties to what is otherwise recognized as an aspect of human affairs or when he treats an economic system as though it were a mechanical system. #Quoted in Peter Boettke & Steven Horwitz, “Beyond equilibrium economics: reflections on the uniqueness of the Austrian tradition” (1994)