Essays on Philosophy, Politics & Economics: Integration & Common Research Projects (Stanford Economics and Finance)

This volume brings together distinguished philosophers with interdisciplinary expertise to show how the resources of philosophy can be employed in the tasks of evaluating economics and fostering policy debates. Contributors offer analyses of basic ideas in economics, such as the notion of efficiency, "economic man", incentives, self-interest, and utility maximization. They discuss key concepts in political theory such as desert, compensation, autonomy, equality, consent or fairness. The book then offers examples of how philosophical resources can be applied to specific, timely debates, such as discrimination, affirmative action, and ethical considerations in Social Security. These applications demonstrate how philosophy, politics, and economics can be fruitfully combined, while the more theoretical chapters clarify fundamental relationships across these related disciplines. Ultimately, the text guides students and scholars in expanding their perspectives as they approach the necessarily complex research questions of today and tomorrow. ""In the 20th century, economics aspired to become a technical discipline, more akin to engineering and physics. The effort to build a discipline of this nature has failed. The disciplines of philosophy, politics, and economics are once again being integrated and there is a common research program emerging. Philosophy. Politics & Economics is an outstanding collection of contemporary essays. It is a great place to start to get a sense of today's questions and appeoaches, and the potential for this integration to improve our understanding of the human condition."--Peter J. Boettke, Univesity Professor, Professor of Economics and BB&T Professor for the Study of Capitalism at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University" ""The editors bring together an interesting and thought-provoking collection of essay at the intersection of several disciplines. This collection should be of interest to wide range of scholars and students invested in crucial questions of public policy and their theoretical underpinnings."--Diane Jeske, Associate Professor of Philosophy, The University of Iowa" "This volume brings together distinguished philosophers with interdisciplinary expertise to show how the resources of philosophy can be employed in the tasks of evaluating economics and fortering policy debates. Contributors offer analyses of basic ideas in economics, such as the notion of efficiency, "economic man." incentives, self-interest, and utility maximization. They discuss key concepts in political theory such as desert, compensation autonomy, equality, consent, or fairness. The book then offers examples of how philosophical resources can be applied to specific, timely debates, such as discrimination, affirmative action, and ethical considerations in Social Security. These applications demonstrate how philosophy, politics, and economics can be fruitfully combined, while the more theoretical chapters clarify fundamental relationships across these related disciplines. Ultimately, the text guides students and scholars in expanding their perspectives as they approach the necessarily complex research questions of today and tomorrow."--BOOK JACKET Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 About the Contributors......Page 10 Introduction / Christi Favor, Gerald Gaus, and Julian Lamont......Page 16 I. The Foundations: Rationality and Human Values......Page 28 1. Utility and Utilitarianism / Edward F. McClennen......Page 30 2. The Limits of Homo Economicus: The Conflict of Values and Principles / Gerald Gaus......Page 52 3. Preferences, Cognitivism, and the Public Sphere / Jeremy Shearmur......Page 84 II. The Question of Economic Desert......Page 114 4. Expressive Desert and Deserving Compensation / Christi Favor......Page 116 5. Productivity, Compensation, and Voluntariness / Julian Lamont......Page 136 6. Discriminatory Privileges, Compensatory Privileges, and Affirmative Action / Robert A. Kocis......Page 154 III. Ethics and Efficiency......Page 172 7. Deontic Efficiency and Equality / T.M. Wilkinson......Page 174 8. Cohen on Incentives, Inequality, and Egalitarianism / Thomas Christiano......Page 188 IV. Choice, Consent, and Morality......Page 216 9. Behavioral Law and Economics: The Assault on Consent, Will, and Dignity / Mark D. White......Page 218 10. Consent and the Principle of Fairness / Calvin G. Normore......Page 240 V. The Future—Equality and Fairness......Page 258 11. The Costs and Benefits of Future Generations / Russell Hardin......Page 260 12. Intergenerational Justice and Saving / Clark Wolf......Page 284 VI. Policy, Ethics, and Economics......Page 306 13. Communitarianism and Social Security / Daniel Shapiro......Page 308 14. Rights, Pollution, and Public Policy / H. Sterling Burnett......Page 320 15. Price Gouging and Market Failure / Matt Zwolinski......Page 348 Index......Page 382 Utility And Utilitarianism / Edward F. Mcclennen -- The Limits Of Homo Economicus : The Conflict Of Values And Principles / Gerald Gaus -- Preferences, Cognitivism, And The Public Sphere / Jeremy Shearmur -- Expressive Desert And Deserving Compensation / Christi Favor -- Productivity, Compensation, And Voluntariness / Julian Lamont -- Discriminatory Privileges, Compensatory Privileges, And Affirmative Action / Robert A. Kocis -- Deontic Efficiency And Equality / T.m. Wilkinson -- Cohen On Incentives, Inequality, And Egalitarianism / Thomas Christiano -- Behavioral Law And Economics : The Assault On Consent, Will, And Dignity / Mark D. White -- Consent And The Principle Of Fairness / Calvin G. Normore -- The Costs And Benefits Of Future Generations / Russell Hardin -- Intergenerational Justice And Just Savings / Clark Wolf -- Communitarianism And Social Security / Daniel Shapiro -- Rights, Pollution, And Public Policy / H. Sterling Burnett -- Price Gouging And Market Failure / Matt Zwolinski. Edited By Christi Favor, Gerald Gaus, And Julian Lamont. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Utility and utilitarianism / Edward F. McClennen The limits of homo economicus : the conflict of values and principles / Gerald F. Gaus Preferences, cognitivism, and the public sphere / Jeremy Shearmur Expressive desert and deserving compensation / Christi Favor Productivity, compensation, and voluntariness / Julian Lamont Discriminatory privileges, compensatory privileges, and affirmative action / Robert A. Kocis Deontic efficiency and equality / T. M. Wilkinson Cohen on incentives, inequality, and egalitarianism / Thomas Christiano Behavioral law and economics : the assault on consent, will, and dignity / Mark White Consent and the principle of fairness / Calvin G. Normore The costs and benefits of future generations / Russell Hardin Intergenerational justice and just savings / Clark Wolf Communitarianism and social security / Daniel Shapiro Rights, pollution, and public policy / H. Sterling Burnett The ethics of price gouging / Matt Zwolinski.