June, 2009

A Plea for Introspection

by Robert Wright
The Conversation
June 22nd, 2009

Thanks to all three of you for your latest round of feedback. So far we haven’t spent much time on what I view as the heart of my essay, and I’m wondering if I can lure you three into an introspective thought experiment that bears directly on it. First, a recap: I argued that when [...]

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Perceiving Gain Is Itself a Social Process

by Timur Kuran
The Conversation
June 20th, 2009

In his reaction to Robert Wright’s thoughtful response, Jonathan Sheehan takes issue with Wright’s assumption that “all players are free to define gain for themselves.” I, too, will critique that assumption, though from a different angle. The processes that prevent us from trying to achieve particular gains may also distort perceptions about available opportunities. This [...]

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