Animal Spirits: How Human Psychology Drives the Economy, and Why It Matters for Global Capitalism.George A. Akerlof &Robert J. Shiller -2009 - Princeton University Press.details"This book is a sorely needed corrective. Animal Spirits is an important--maybe even a decisive--contribution at a difficult juncture in macroeconomic theory.
(1 other version)Identity Economics: How Our Identities Shape Our Work, Wages, and Well-Being.George A. Akerlof &Rachel E. Kranton -2011 - Princeton University Press.detailsIdentity Economics provides an important and compelling new way to understand human behavior, revealing how our identities--and not just economic incentives--influence our decisions. In 1995, economist Rachel Kranton wrote future Nobel Prize-winnerGeorge Akerlof a letter insisting that his most recent paper was wrong. Identity, she argued, was the missing element that would help to explain why people--facing the same economic circumstances--would make different choices. This was the beginning of a fourteen-year collaboration--and of Identity Economics. The authors explain how (...) our conception of who we are and who we want to be may shape our economic lives more than any other factor, affecting how hard we work, and how we learn, spend, and save. Identity economics is a new way to understand people's decisions--at work, at school, and at home. With it, we can better appreciate why incentives like stock options work or don't; why some schools succeed and others don't; why some cities and towns don't invest in their futures--and much, much more. Identity Economics bridges a critical gap in the social sciences. It brings identity and norms to economics. People's notions of what is proper, and what is forbidden, and for whom, are fundamental to how hard they work, and how they learn, spend, and save. Thus people's identity--their conception of who they are, and of who they choose to be--may be the most important factor affecting their economic lives. And the limits placed by society on people's identity can also be crucial determinants of their economic well-being. (shrink)
Explorations in Pragmatic Economics: Selected Papers ofGeorge A. Akerlof (and Co-Authors).George A. Akerlof -2005 - Oxford University Press UK.detailsAkerlof's substantial introduction to this volume tells the story of these papers, connecting them and showing how his later work has built upon his early contributions, in many cases improving their arguments, their subtlety, and their usefulness today.
Nanotechnologies and Ethical Argumentation: A Philosophical Stalemate?Georges A. Legault,Johane Patenaude,Jean-Pierre Béland &Monelle Parent -2013 -Open Journal of Philosophy 3 (1):15-22.detailsWhen philosophers participate in the interdisciplinary ethical, environmental, economic, legal, and social analysis of nanotechnologies, what is their specific contribution? At first glance, the contribution of philosophy appears to be a clarification of the various moral and ethical arguments that are commonly presented in philosophical discussion. But if this is the only contribution of philosophy, then it can offer no more than a stalemate position, in which each moral and ethical argument nullifies all the others. To provide an alternative, we (...) must analyze the reasons behind the prevailing individual and cultural relativism in ethics. The epistemological investigation of this stalemate position will guide us to the core problem of the relation between theory and action . The stalemate can be overcome from a pragmatic philosophical standpoint, which combines epistemology, philosophy of language—that is, the philosophy of speech acts—and practical reasoning—that is, reasoning about decision-making . From this philosophical standpoint, it will be possible to show how philosophy can accompany and support the development of nanotechnologies. (shrink)
Cults of personality.George A. Wells -2014 -Think 13 (37):13-17.detailsThe nineteenth century saw frequent appeals to the idea of a redeemer personality, a heroic leader – musings which culminated in the cults devoted to Hitler and Stalin. This article shows that the self-assertion of leaders can stimulate the self-abasement of the followers on whom they depend (and vice versa), and discusses in what circumstances such an interplay becomes dominant in a society, and with what advantages and disadvantages for it.
Miracles and the new testament.George A. Wells -2010 -Think 9 (26):43-59.detailsC.S. Lewis, the scholar of English mediaeval and Renaissance literature who died in 1963 and is still widely respected as a Christian apologist, complained that academic biblical scholars simply assume that miracles cannot have occurred in the fashion reported in the New Testament. In a lecture quoted by A.I.C. Heron 1 , he said: ‘The canon “If miraculous, unhistorical” is one they bring to their study of the texts, not one they have learned from it.’ In fact, as John Kent (...) retorted, they did not rule out in advance the idea of supernatural events, but were able, without it, to give adequate and plausible accounts of how the biblical documents reached their present form, by means of a method ‘based on questions of probability in terms of evidence’, not ‘on an a priori rejection of miracle’. 2 Conclusions concerning historical events of any kind are similarly based. ‘No historians’, says the historian R.J. Evans, ‘really believe in the absolute truth of what they are writing, simply in its probable truth, which they have done their utmost to establish by following the usual rules of evidence’. 3 To this question of ‘absolute’ truth I shall return. (shrink)
A New Politics for Philosophy: Perspectives on Plato, Nietzsche, and Strauss.George A. Dunn (ed.) -2022 - Lexington Books.detailsInspired by the scholarship of Laurence Lampert, this international group of scholars offer meticulous interpretations of key philosophical works by Protagoras, Aeschylus, Xenophon, Plato, Descartes, Nietzsche, and Leo Strauss.
Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters. Steven Heine.George A. Keyworth -2003 -Buddhist Studies Review 20 (2):229-233.detailsOpening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters. Steven Heine. Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford 2001. xiv, 200 pp. £18.99. ISBN 019 513 586 5.
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Veronica Mars and Philosophy: Investigating the Mysteries of Life.George A. Dunn &William Irwin (eds.) -2014 - Wiley-Blackwell.detailsVeronica Mars is a kick-ass private investigator, smart and street-wise. But what can her character tell us about larger life issues, such as knowledge and skepticism, trust and friendship, revenge, race, gender, and feminism? What makes her tick? And why is Logan such a sarcastic bad boy, anyway? _Veronica Mars and Philosophy_ features a thought-provoking collection of essays centered on philosophical issues brought forth in _Veronica Mars_, the critically acclaimed neo-noir detective series set in the fictional town of Neptune, California. (...) Fans and newcomers alike will gain unique insights into the philosophical make-up of a hit show that tackled both crime and some of the larger mysteries of life. Introduces significant philosophical concepts that arise in the cult TV show, _Veronica Mars_ Tackles topics relevant to contemporary youth culture, including trust and friendship, revenge, knowledge and skepticism, race, class, gender, and feminism Offers insights into darker themes explored in the series, which is noted for the complexity and intricate plotting of its storylines Delves deeply into the psychology of Veronica Mars during her transition from high school to college Written for fans of the television show, philosophy students or readers interested in popular culture Timed for release with the highly anticipated _Veronica Mars_ feature film. (shrink)
Bargaining with Eternity and Numbering One's Days.George A. Dunn -2018 - In Marc D. White,Doctor Strange and Philosophy. Wiley. pp. 3–16.detailsFrom the standpoint of modern medicine, death is a failure—and one of the first things that we learn in the 2016 movie Doctor Strange is that Stephen Strange does not like to fail. Stephen Strange in many ways epitomizes the unflattering picture that the stereotypes paint of a spiritually desolate West. If the West is hyper‐rationalist and obsessed with subduing the forces of nature, the East of popular imagination is where one goes to gain the wisdom that begins with surrendering (...) control and accepting the limits of reason. The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche would say that the Hinterweltler's depiction of Dormammu and the nightmarish consequences of inviting him into this world reveal the hope for eternity to be grounded in a hatred of life. The sorcerer Kaecilius, rogue disciple and nemesis of the Ancient One, also aspires to “a world beyond time, beyond death”, where mortal beings can enjoy “eternal life as part of the one”. (shrink)
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Against a third dogma of logical empiricism: Otto Neurath and "unpredictability in principle".George A. Reisch -2001 -International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 15 (2):199 – 209.details(2001). Against a third dogma of logical empiricism: Otto Neurath and 'unpredictability in principle' International Studies in the Philosophy of Science: Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 199-209. doi: 10.1080/02698590120059068.
Planning science: Otto Neurath and the International Encyclopedia of Unified Science.George A. Reisch -1994 -British Journal for the History of Science 27 (2):153-175.detailsIn the spring of 1937, the University of Chicago Press mailed hundreds of subscription forms for its latest enterprise – a projected series of twenty short monographs by various philosophers and scientists. Together the monographs were to form the first section of the International Encyclopedia of Unified Science. Included in each mailing was an introductory prospectus which began:Recent years have witnessed a striking growth of interest in the scientific enterprise as a whole and especially in the unity of science. The (...) concern throughout the world for the logic of science, the history of science, and the sociology of science reveals a comprehensive international movement interested in considering science as a whole in terms of the scientific temper itself. A science of science is appearing. The extreme specialization within science demands as its corrective an interest in the scientific edifice in its entirety. This is especially necessary if science is to satisfy its inherent urge for the systematization of its results and methods and if science is to perform adequately its educational role in the modern world. Science is gradually rousing itself for the performance of its total task. (shrink)
The Political Writings of John Adams: Representative Selections.George A. Peek (ed.) -1954 - Indianapolis, Ind.: Hackett Publishing Company.detailsThe fundamental article of my political creed, declared John Adams, is that despotism, or unlimited sovereignty, or absolute power is the same in a majority of a popular assembly, an aristocratical council, an oligarchical junto, and a single emperor. Equally arbitrary, cruel, bloody, and in every respect diabolical. The consequences of this article for Adams' thought are nowhere better articulated than in this anthology, which presents his remarkable attempts at constructing a complete political system based on constitutional, balanced, representative government.
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Die Philosophie Bei "Die Tribute von Panem" - Hunger Games: Liebe, Macht Und Überleben.George A. Dunn,Nicolas Michaud,William Irwin &Ursula Bischoff (eds.) -2013 - Wiley-Vch.detailsKatniss Everdeen, die 16-jährige Heldin der "Tribute von Panem", ist mehr als eine Romanheldin. Ihr Schicksal veranlasst uns, über Dinge wie Autorität und Rebellion nachzudenken. Die postapokalyptische Welt von Panem zeigt uns eine Welt am Abgrund. Während ein Teil der Gesellschaft am Rande des Krieges steht und um das Überleben kämpft, gibt es auf der anderen Seite die Regierenden, das "Kapitol", das im Luxus lebt und Gefallen an einem alljährlichen grausamen Spiel findet, bei dem nur einer der ausgelosten Mitspielenden überleben (...) darf. Die Helden der Trilogie kämpfen mit schrecklichen Entscheidungen und moralischen Dilemmas - Grund genug, sich vor dem Hintergrund der Philosophie zum Beispiel mit Fragen wie diesen auseinanderzusetzen: - Sind normale moralische Regeln in der Arena überhaupt gültig? - Darf Unterhaltung auch gefährlich sein? Und wenn ja, warum kann es uns gefallen, anderen dabei zuzusehen, wie sie leiden? - Wie können wir zwischen Realität und Fiktion unterscheiden? - Kann Philosophie Katniss helfen, sich zwischen Peeta und Gale zu entscheiden? Das vorliegende Buch bedient sich der Lehren der bedeutendsten Philosophen, wie Platon, Aristoteles, Kant, Locke und Darwin, um einen tiefen Blick in die Geschichte und Themen der Bücher und Filme zu werfen: z. B. Opferung, Altruismus, moralische Entscheidungen, soziale Klassen und Geschlecht. (shrink)
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The cognitive revolution: a historical perspective.George A. Miller -2003 -Trends in Cognitive Sciences 7 (3):141-144.detailsCognitive science is a child of the 1950s, the product of a time when psychology, anthropology and linguistics were redefining themselves and computer science and neuroscience as disciplines were coming into existence. Psychology could not participate in the cognitive revolution until it had freed itself from behaviorism, thus restoring cognition to scientific respectability. By then, it was becoming clear in several disciplines that the solution to some of their problems depended crucially on solving problems traditionally allocated to other disciplines. Collaboration (...) was called for: this is a personal account of how it came about. (shrink)
The Will to Orthodoxy: A Critical Genealogy of Northern Chan Buddhism. Bernard Faure.George A. Keyworth -1999 -Buddhist Studies Review 16 (1):123-127.detailsThe Will to Orthodoxy: A Critical Genealogy of Northern Chan Buddhism. Bernard Faure. Translated by Phyllis Brooks. Stanford University Press, Stanford 1997. xii, 289 pp. Cloth $49.50, pbk $19.95. ISBN 08047 2865 8/2866 6.
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SAD effects on grantsmanship.George A. Lozano -2015 -Bioessays 37 (1):10-11.detailsGraphical AbstractSAD is a state of depression induced by a lack of sufficient sunlight that occurs at high latitudes during the fall and winter. SAD causes people to be risk-adverse. Granting agencies of high latitude countries should time high-risk research competitions so they do not coincide with the SAD months.