Name a human activity...

[A18]

That does not involve "the production, distribution, or consumption of a commodit[y]" (definition of "economics" adopted by the Raich Court).

Theft involves the distribution of a commodity. Reading involves the 'consumption' of, for example, a book. Eating involves the consumption of food. Even shooting someone might involve the consumption of the gun.

[Peter]

Even shooting someone might involve the consumption of the gun.

Or perhaps more to the point, being shot involves consumption of the bullet.

Perhaps taking a walk, though one could argue that by putting wear and tear into your shoes you consume your shoes.

[Bacon King]

sitting still and breathing? unless you consider air a commodity.

[minionofmidas]

sitting still and breathing? unless you consider air a commodity.

What surface are you sitting on? Again, wear and tear, wear and tear...

Obviously, unless you define that sentence very, very narrowly, it encompasses literally everything.

[J. J.]

Sleeping, though there is a opportunity loss.

[MaC]

How do you define economics?  I would say thinking, but that consumes time.

[John Dibble]

Sleeping, though there is a opportunity loss.

Well this depends on where you're sleeping, now doesn't it? If you sleep on a bed, you're 'consuming' the bed. If you sleep on property, you're 'consuming' property. So, you'd have to be sleeping on something that can't be bought, sold, or owned.


I think breathing generally counts since air isn't really owned by anyone, and is in such ample supply that you really can't sell it.

[riceowl]

every activity consumes energy.

[John Dibble]

every activity consumes energy.

But energy is not necessarily a commodity. Rubbing your hands together consumes energy, but you can't really sell that energy, now can you?

[Lunar]

Sleeping, though there is a opportunity loss.

Well this depends on where you're sleeping, now doesn't it? If you sleep on a bed, you're 'consuming' the bed. If you sleep on property, you're 'consuming' property. So, you'd have to be sleeping on something that can't be bought, sold, or owned.


I think breathing generally counts since air isn't really owned by anyone, and is in such ample supply that you really can't sell it.

Alas, "breathing" cannot be isolated.  You have to be standing and breathing (or whatever), in which case you are consuming clothes and adding wear to the property.

[John Dibble]

Sleeping, though there is a opportunity loss.

Well this depends on where you're sleeping, now doesn't it? If you sleep on a bed, you're 'consuming' the bed. If you sleep on property, you're 'consuming' property. So, you'd have to be sleeping on something that can't be bought, sold, or owned.


I think breathing generally counts since air isn't really owned by anyone, and is in such ample supply that you really can't sell it.

Alas, "breathing" cannot be isolated.  You have to be standing and breathing (or whatever), in which case you are consuming clothes and adding wear to the property.

LOL! Well, I think that's a bit of a stretch - seems to me that's just multi-tasking.

[MaC]

well, what is is Phillip?  I've been kept in suspense for too long now.

[Jacobtm]

Striking someone.

Pain, pressure, momentum and force are not commodities.

[John Dibble]

Pain,

Hire a dominatrix...

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Hire a masseuse...

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Ride a roller coaster...

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Watch Star Wars...

[Bono]

Thinking?

[John Dibble]

Thinking?

Scientists are paid to think.

[ilikeverin]

Standing in a natural field, naked?

[John Dibble]

Standing in a natural field, naked?

The field is land, and land is a commodity. Perhaps belonging to a nudist colony.

[MaC]

floating in space, dead and naked?

[John Dibble]

floating in space, dead and naked?

It requires a space ship of some sort to get into space, which is quite expensive.

[MaC]

Is this a trick question, or is there a real answer?

[minionofmidas]

Is this a trick question, or is there a real answer?

There is a real answer, and it has been given in this thread.

[MaC]

Is this a trick question, or is there a real answer?

There is a real answer, and it has been given in this thread.

what is it?

[minionofmidas]

Is this a trick question, or is there a real answer?

There is a real answer, and it has been given in this thread.

what is it?

The answer is that there is no such activity.

[CheeseWhiz]

Is this a trick question, or is there a real answer?

There is a real answer, and it has been given in this thread.

what is it?

The answer is that there is no such activity.

Then it's a trick question