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So . . . are we to assume that mankind is innately and universally corrupt? And if so, how corrupt? The answer may lie in . . . bagels. Consider the true story of a man named Paul Feldman. Once upon a time, Feldman dreamed big dreams. Trained as an agricultural economist, he wanted to tackle world hunger. Instead, he took a job in Washington, analyzing weapons expenditures for the U.S. Navy. This was in 1962. For the next twenty-odd years, he did more of the same. He held senior-level jobs and earned good money, but he wasn’t fully engaged in his work. At the office Christmas party, colleagues would introduce him to their wives not as “the head of the public research group” (which he was) but as “the guy who brings in the bagels.” —Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner For what purpose do the authors use the bagel example within their argument?

Answer :

To show how little importance a man can have to another man. And how although we may try our hardest to make ourselves into something and bring something good and of purpose to the world, our efforts will never be recognized or make any sort of real difference in the world or to the people around us.

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