Lehrende: Prof. Dr. Dr. Lydia Mechtenberg; Dr. Michael Moehler
Veranstaltungsart: Seminar
Anzeige im Stundenplan: PEP10
Semesterwochenstunden: 2
Unterrichtssprache: Englisch
Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl: - | 18
Weitere Informationen: Absences: In the event of an excused absence, please notify the instructors in advance. Unexcused absences will negatively affect your participation grade. If you miss more than three hours of seminar unexcused, then you may receive a failing grade for this seminar. Class participation (25% of grade): Students are expected to (i) complete all required readings during the semester before the actual seminar takes place, (ii) attend all seminar sessions, and (iii) participate actively and regularly in seminar discussions.
Kommentare/ Inhalte: This seminar discusses foundational issues at the intersection of philosophy and economics, and their application to problems associated with the formation of society, social cooperation, and democratic decision making. The seminar is divided into four parts: In the first part of the seminar, we will discuss the nature of economics as a social science and its implications for the methodology of economic theory, as well as the relationship between economic theory and ethics. In addition, we will discuss the modeling of human nature in the social sciences. In the second part of the seminar, we will apply the methodological considerations of the first part of the seminar in order to analyze problems of human interaction as they arise in the formation of society and social cooperation. In the third part of the seminar, we will discuss ethical questions addressed by the experimental literature in philosophy. : In the fourth part, we will compare social preferences like altruism, norm conformity and reciprocity to moral attitudes.
Vorgehen: The readings for each session are made available as pdf via STiNE as active link to a library source. We expect participants to have thoroughly read the articles in advance: they will be discussed during the session.
Zusätzliche Hinweise zu Prüfungen: Essay (75% of grade): Students must submit one essay (Hausarbeit) on a topic of their choice in consultation with the course instructors. The essay should (i) critically engage with the course material as a primary source of readings, (ii) defend a well-defined thesis, and (iii) be between 4.000-5.000 words, including references. The reference style is less important than the inclusion of citations in some adequate form (in-text citations or footnotes). The essays are expected to be written in English language (American or British spelling). The essay is due by 12:00 (local time) on August 15. Please submit by email (using your official University of Hamburg email account) an electronic copy (MS Word document) of your essay to both course instructors before the deadline. Late essays, unless excused well in advance, will not be accepted.
