CPH-PPE Flyleaf Books Series: “Making Public Choices: Consequentialism and Its Critics” with Gerard Rothfus
April 23 @ 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
$10
Rescheduled for April 23 due to inclement weather. Featuring Gerard Rothfus, Teaching Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Core Faculty in UNC’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program
Consequentialism offers a simple and intuitive logic for thinking about the merits of both individual actions and social policies. According to this logic, actions and policies should be evaluated according to their total costs and benefits. Simple and intuitive though it is, this logic faces a number of puzzling challenges. This talk will highlight three classic problems for consequentialist reasoning involving (i) collective action, (ii) aggregation of welfare, and (iii) modes of agency.
In this lecture series, UNC Faculty members share their research and answer questions in 90 minutes or less. This spring’s Humanities in Action roster features speakers from UNC’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program—an interdisciplinary initiative that asks scholars to apply their insights to public issues. We’ll examine historical policy decisions, philosophical ruminations on weighty choices, and contemporary political trends. Lectures happen on select Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6 PM at Flyleaf Books.
For a more detailed description of each lecture, click on the title below:
- Respect and Loathing in American Democracy | Wednesday, February 5 | 4:30 – 6 PM
Examine the importance of respect, the tensions between justice and respect, and a theoretical path forward - Unpacking Justice: The LA Aqueduct and Chinatown | Wednesday, February 12 | 4:30 – 6 PM
Examine three kinds of justice: procedural, historical, and distributive; illustrated by the creation of the LA Aqueduct- subject of the film, Chinatown. - Ethics and Public Policy Experiments | Wednesday, March 5 | 4:30 – 6 PM
Explore the potential of experiments to identify the causal impacts of policy interventions and discuss the ethical issues they raise. - Jane Addams on Democracy and Shared Responsibility | Wednesday, March 19 | 4:30 – 6 PM
Explore Jane Addams’ positions on labor and community organizing with revealing insights into how democracy works. - Trust Me, Not Them: A Critical Look | Wednesday, April 2 | 4:30 – 6 PM
Preemptive warnings might sometimes be justified but, they are also used to shield false beliefs from legitimate criticism... - Inexperience in Congress and Congressional Elections | Wednesday, April 16 | 4:30 – 6 PM
Explore the reasons behind the increased success of inexperienced candidates running for congressional office. - Making Public Choices: Consequentialism and Its Critics | Wednesday, April 23 | 4:30 – 6 PM
Consequentialism offers a simple and intuitive logic for thinking about the merits of both individual actions and social policies
All UNC students and faculty can attend (live or virtual) for free. They can write human@unc.edu for registering online, or just show up with a One Card. Please spread the word.
If you are not a UNC student or faculty member, you can purchase a Series Pass to attend all 7 lectures for $60! Individual events are $10 each.
CAROLINA ALUMNI DISCOUNT:
Carolina Alumni members can attend each event for $5 each, or purchase a Series Pass for $30.
