February 2019 – Through a Glass Darkly

2019-02-122019-02-12

Freedom: Part 5

Here are the notes on our 4th February 2019 meeting, during which we discussed Thaler’s views on libertarian paternalism.

Optional Materials

We’ll look at two video series, both from ARTE. In the first series, Earn a Living, the videos are each around ten minutes (x6 ~= 1 hour). We’ll also look at the first part of ARTE’s series on anarchism (52 minutes).

Earn a Living. Six videos. ARTE, 2018.
Ramonet, Tancrède. No Gods, No Masters: A History of Anarchism. “Part 1: The Passion for Destruction (1840–1906)”. YouTube. ARTE, 2016.

2019-02-112019-02-11

Notes on Freedom: Part 4

Last week we continued our discussion on economic freedom, with papers on Nudging and Libertarian Paternalism, and the final part of the Trap.

Topics

The difference between paternalism and welfare state: a paternalistic state influences people to do what they wouldn’t naturally do, treating them as children in effect, for the greater good

2019-02-032019-02-03

Freedom: Part 4

Here are the notes on our 21st January 2019 meeting, during which we discussed Friedman’s speech on the role of government in a free society. The notes for our 14th January meeting, about Hayek’s “The Use of Knowledge in Society”, can be found here.

In our next meeting, we’ll be continuing on the topic of economic freedom, with a focus on behavioural economics.

Optional Materials

We’ll discuss the idea of libertarian paternalism and nudging, proposed by behavioural economist Thaler and law professor Sunstein, and finish the Adam Curtis documentary. Most people in attendance will have looked at these materials. Don’t be dissuaded from coming if you don’t have time however.

Cass Sunstein & Richard Thaler, “Libertarian Paternalism“, 93 Am. Econ. Rev. 175 (2003).
Cass R. Sunstein, “Nudging: A Very Short Guide“, 37 J. Consumer Pol’y 583 (2014).
Curtis, Adam. “The Trap: Part 3. ‘What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom.’” YouTube. London: BBC, 2007.