Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (UNC)
Prisoner’s Dilemma a
Prisoner’s Dilemma and Distributive Justice (Duke) Introduction
to Philosoph
stributive Justice (Duke)
litics and Economics (UNC)
Prof. Chris Melenovsky ([email protected])
uke.edu, phone: 805-280-8443
assroom at UNC (2nd half): Murray G205
well 105-f, Office at Duke: Perkins 306
ntment
Monday, 228 Gray Hall (@Duke University)
Wednesday, 105 Caldwell Hall (@University of North Carolina)
Professor: Jonathan Anomaly, jonathan.anom
Classroom at Duke (1 half): Social Sciences 1
Course Description:
Class meets M, W 4:30 – 5:50, Office at UNC:
This class is an introduction to the topics and methods of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Office Hours: Mon and Wed, 3:30-4:30, or by
of some core conceptual tools
used toas
analyze
(PPE)
an interdisciplinary field. Topics include rational choice theory, game theory, the role of
Course description
d economics (PPE). It also serves as the
social norms, distributive justice and social choice theory. We will mix both contemporary
and
This interdisciplinary course provides an ove
Duke and the PPE minor at UNC. Topics
historical
to give a broad overview of the questions that PPE is concerned with,
and
the
stributive justice, liberty and
paternalism, writing
and
issues
at the
intersection of philosophy, polit
vior of voters and policymakers.
Gateway course for the PPE certificate progr
ways the field has progressed.
st
covered will include the moral status of mar
the use
economic
Not only does this class span traditional disciplines, it spans universities. On Mondays,
weofwill
havemodels to understand th
classes on Duke’s campus. On Wednesdays, we will have classes on UNC’s campus. This means that
Required
students will need to commute between Chapel Hill and Durham. I recommend taking
the books
Nozick, Anarchy, State and Utopia
Robertson Scholars Express bus between campuses (http://www.triangletransit.org/pass-store)
.
Axelrod, The Evolution of Cooperation
Schelling, Micromotives and Macrobehavior
Gaus, On Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
and MacPherson, Economic Analys
theirHausman
importance,
All other readings will be available on Sakai
al Philosophy and Public Policy
Evaluation:
In grading this class, I care about whether or not you understand the arguments, see
and can engage with the ideas. For this reason, you should spend time thinking about the arguments
criteria
rather than memorizing facts. Do the arguments sense to you? What’s wrong with them?Grading
In all grading
Three non-cumulative essay exams, each wo
assignments, I will be looking to see that you can both correctly represent the basic claims
and come to
The essay exams will be taken at home, and
excused absences will loweryour
your grade.
own judgment about the issues.
Participation can also help your grade, espec
% of your final grade, and one quiz worth 10%.
ch involve about 5 pages of writing.
borderline cases.
UNC honor code.
The grades themselves are broken into four parts (and extra credit)
Attendance policy
Attendance is mandatory. Any more than th
• 15% Class Participation
- Daily participation grades based on frequency and quality of contribution to class
Plagiarism policy
- Missed classes can be made up by submitted a 400 word summary of the readingAll students are expected to abide by the Du
- Missed homework assignments will result in - 1 point on final participation gradehttp://integrity.duke.edu http://honor.unc.
- Exceptional homework assignments will result in +1 point on participation grade
- Extra Credit assignments result in between 1 and 5 extra points of participation
• 5% Game Theory Quiz
- the goal of this quiz will be for you to demonstrate key game theory concepts.
• 25% Argument Summaries (3)
- Each summary is a 650-word summary and response to an author’s specified argument
- Latter assignments are worth more than earlier (7%, 8%, 10%)
• 15% Extra Reading Summary
- Pick one of the approved anthology chapters to summarize and respond to in 1000 words.
• 40% Final Exam
- the final exam will consist of short answer questions for the whole of the class.
Texts:
•
•
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics: An Anthology, Oxford University Press (2015)
all other articles with be available on Sakai
Computer Policy:
Except for special circumstances, I do not allow computers in class. This is for a number of reasons,
foremost of which is that it draws attention away from class discussion. If there are special circumstances
that require you to use a computer in class, please talk to me about it.
-1-
Email Policy:
Email is not used to answer questions because questions are best answered in person. So, email is
primarily to be used for scheduling meetings.
Honor Code:
All students are expected to abide by their respective honor code.
• http://studentconduct.unc.edu/students/rights-responsibilites
• http://integrity.duke.edu/index.html
Plagiarism of any kind is not tolerated. It is in your interest to keep a careful record of any resources you
use in research and writing. Always cite any resource that you use, and do not re-use old papers.
-2-
Unit
Date
Location Due
Topic
Introduction
Aug 19th
UNC
Introduction for UNC only
none
Aug 24th
Duke
Introduction for Duke only
none
Aug 26h
UNC
Individualism and
Aug 31st
HW1
Duke
Reading
- Friedman, M., Capitalism and Freedom, Ch. 1: 7-21
(Sakai)
- Roemer, J., A Future for Socialism, 1-17
(Sakai)
- T. Schelling, Micromotives and Macrobehavior, 11 - 24
(Sakai)
- M. Morgan, “Character-Making…” 136-145
(Sakai)
- Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations, Ch. 1 - 3;
(PPE: 164-171)
- Bentham, J., Principle of Legislation, 1-4, 20 - 32
(Sakai)
- Jevons, W.S., Theory of Political Economy, excerpts
(Sakai)
- Morgan, M., “Character-Making…” 145-150
(Sakai)
- Hausman, D. “Rationality” 45-50
(Sakai)
- Becker, G.,“The Economic Way of Looking at Behavior”
(PPE: 37-43)
- Hausman, D., “Game Theory” 234 - 243 (Sakai)
- Anomaly, J., Ch. 3 Appendix to the Introduction
(PPE: 76-77)
- Wydick, B., Games in Economics Development, Ch. 2
(Sakai)
- Olson, M., “The Logic of Collective Action”
(PPE: 236-240)
Objective and Subjective
- Blackburn, S. “Game Theory and Rational Choice”
(PPE: 78-88)
Capitalism and Socialism
Individualism
Models of Choice
Sep 2nd
UNC
Smith and the Division of Labor
Sep 7th
NO CLASS
LABOR DAY
Sep 9th
UNC
A Mathematical Science
Sep 14th
Game Theory
Evaluating Markets
HW2
Duke
Sep 16th
UNC
Sep 21st
Duke
Rational Choice Theory
AS1
Intro to Game Theory
Applying Game Theory
Quiz
Reading Source
Sep 23rd
UNC
Sep 28th
Duke
Pareto and Welfare Theorems
- Hausman, D., “Pareto Efficiency” 64 - 72, 104 - 107 (Sakai)
Sep 30th
UNC
Public Goods
- Cowen, T., “Public Goods”
(PPE: 197-198)
- Samuelson, P., “The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure”
(Sakai)
- Friedman, D., “Market Failures”
(PPE: 214-232)
- Hausman, D., “Pareto Efficiency” 136-140
(Sakai)
- Hayek, F., “The Use of Knowledge in Society”F
(PPE: 172-177)
Oct 5th
Duke
Externalities
Oct 7th
UNC
Knowledge Advantage
Oct 12th
UNC
AS2
Intro to Public Choice (No Duke) - Buchanan, J., “Politics without Romance”
(PPE: 431-435)
Oct 14th
Duke
AS2
Intro to Public Choice (No UNC) - Buchanan, J., “Politics without Romance”
(PPE: 431-435)
Oct 19th
Duke
Model of Public Choice
- Downs, A., “Economic Theory of Political Action”
(PPE: 436-448)
Oct 21st
UNC
Alternative Model
- Brennan et al., “Impartial Spectator Goes to Washington”
(Sakai)
Norms and
Oct 26th
Duke
Conventions
- Lewis, D., Convention, excerpts
(Sakai)
Institutions
Oct 28th
UNC
Norms and Collective Action
- Ostrom, E., “Collective Action and Evolution of Norms”
(PPE: 255-270)
Nov. 2nd
Duke
Social Norms
- Bicchieri, C., Grammar of Society, excerpts
(Sakai)
Nov. 4th
UNC
Property
Public Choice
- Locke, J., “Of Property”
- Hume, D., “Of Justice and Property”
(PPE: 131-132)
(PPE: 133-140)
Unit
Date
Location Due
Topic
Reading
Reading Source
Distributive Justice
Nov. 9th
Duke
Nov. 11th
UNC
Egalitarianism
- Coddington, A., “Utilitarianism Today”
(Sakai)
- Arneson, R., “Equality and Equal Opportunity for Welfare”
(PPE 368-376)
Nov. 16th
Duke
Libertarianism
- Nozick, R., Anarchy State and Utopia
(PPE: 317-333)
Nov. 18th
UNC
Marxism
- Marx, K., “Paris Manuscripts”
(Sakai)
- Marx and Engels, Communist Manifesto, Pt. 1
(Sakai)
Essay Utilitarianism
- Marx. K., “A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy” (Sakai)
Nov. 23rd
Duke
Justice as Fairness
- Rawls, J., Theory of Justice
(PPE: 294-311)
- Gutman and Thompson, Why Deliberative Democracy?
(Sakai)
NO CLASS
Nov. 25th
Nov. 30th
Duke
AS3
Deliberative Democracy
LAST DAY
Dec 2nd
UNC
HW3
Last Day Lecture
Review
Dec 5th
UNC
Optional Review Session
Review
Dec 7th
Duke
Optional Review Session
Exam
Dec 8th
UNC
UNC Exam @ 8:00 AM (IN THE MORNING)
Exam
Dec 11th
Duke
Duke Exam #1 @ 2:00 PM
Exam
Dec 12th
Duke
Duke Exam #2 @ 7:00 PM
(tbd)