PHIL 411: Theories of Decision

PHIL 411-001: Theories of Decision
(Spring 2018)

03:00 PM to 04:15 PM TR

Section Information for Spring 2018

  • Fulfills a requirement for the PPE concentration.
  • For students taking a Philosophy major with a catalog year of 2015-2016 or earlier, can be used to fulfill the requirement for two courses of 400-level or above.

This course investigates rational decision making at the individual and group level. We begin with decision theory and consider how a single agent ought to act in a choice situation given her knowledge, or lack thereof, about the world and her particular risk profile. We will examine various problems such as the Allais Paradox, Newcomb’s Problem, and the Ellsberg Paradox.  We then move on to game theory and explore different kinds of competitive and cooperative strategic interactions between agents, define different kinds of solutions (or equilibria) of these games, and apply game theory to the study of morality and convention. Finally, if time allows, we will turn to social choice theory to examine models of group decision-making. We will discuss the impossibility results of Arrow and Sen.

Prerequisite: Two previous courses in either Philosophy, Psychology, or Economics.

Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Examines from a philosophical perspective descriptive and normative theories of individual decision, with particular focus on the strengths and weaknesses of theories of rational choice, and attempts to incorporate insights from psychology into theories of decision. Explores theoretical developments and a variety of applications. Limited to three attempts.
Recommended Prerequisite: Two previous courses in either Philosophy, Psychology, or Economics.
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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