scholarly journals Rationality as the condition of individual rights in David Gauthier’s Morals by Agreement

Author(s):  
Marcin Saar

The topic of this paper is the foundation for individual rights proposed by David Gauthier in his seminal 1986 book Morals by Agreement, and particularly the role of conception of rationality in this foundation. The foundation of rights is a part of Gauthier’s broader enterprise: to ground morals in rationality – more specifically, in the economic conception of rationality. Because of the importance of this conception for the whole of Gauthier’s project, we reconstruct first the conception of rationality which can be found in decision theory and game theory, presenting simultaneously in a relatively non-technical way some basic concepts of the aforementioned disciplines. We proceed then to reconstruction of the foundation of rights itself – it turns on Gauthier’s interpretation of the so-called “Lockean proviso.” Lastly, we turn to the connection between rationality and foundation of rights. It is to be found in the narrow compliance – the disposition to enter only into cooperation which satisfies conditions of fairness set out in part by the Lockean proviso.

1976 ◽  
Vol 15 (04) ◽  
pp. 216-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Th. R. Taylor

Attempts have been made for almost two decades to use computers to make clinical diagnoses. Interest in such techniques persists despite little practical success in their application to routine patient care. The explanation of this lack of success is complex and includes (i) lack of understanding of the decisionmaking process itself and (ii) the need for a theoretical framework within which such systems can be developed. A major objective of this paper is to illustrate the contribution that the concepts and techniques associated with Decision Theory can make to both of these problems.After attempting to analyse the deficiencies of current approaches to computer-assisted diagnosis the paper discusses some of the basic concepts of decision theory. It then illustrates the role of decision theory in studies using different forms of clinical decision analysis.Finally the paper indicates the relevance of decision analysis to medical education and to the provision of health care.


1976 ◽  
Vol 15 (04) ◽  
pp. 216-224
Author(s):  
Th. R. Taylor

Attempts have been made for almost two decades to use computers to make clinical diagnoses. Interest in such techniques persists despite little practical success in their application to routine patient care. The explanation of this lack of success is complex and includes (i) lack of understanding of the decisionmaking process itself and (ii) the need for a theoretical framework within which such systems can be developed. A major objective of this paper is to illustrate the contribution that the concepts and techniques associated with Decision Theory can make to both of these problems.After attempting to analyse the deficiencies of current approaches to computer-assisted diagnosis the paper discusses some of the basic concepts of decision theory. It then illustrates the role of decision theory in studies using different forms of clinical decision analysis.Finally the paper indicates the relevance of decision analysis to medical education and to the provision of health care.


1986 ◽  
Vol 23 (03) ◽  
pp. 230-241
Author(s):  
Bruce L. Hutchison

The basic concepts of modern risk and reliability theory are reviewed. Application of these concepts to topics arising in the analysis of ship motions, cargo sea-fastening design and voyage risk studies is explored. The role of risk analysis in decision theory is briefly discussed and the paper concludes with a suggested program of analysis for marine activities and enterprises subject to sea-action induced risk.


2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-136

Arthur J. Robson of Simon Fraser University reviews “The Bounds of Reason: Game Theory and the Unification of the Behavioral Sciences” by Herbert Gintis. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins, “Explores how key concepts from the behavioral sciences can complement game theory in providing insights into human behavior. Discusses decision theory and human behavior; game theory--basic concepts; game theory and human behavior; rationalizability and common knowledge of rationality; extensive for….”


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Geanakoplos

Abstract Decision theory and game theory are extended to allow for information processing errors. This extended theory is then used to reexamine market speculation and consensus, both when all actions (opinions) are common knowledge and when they may not be. Five axioms of information processing are shown to be especially important to speculation and consensus. They are called nondelusion, knowing that you know (KTYK), nested, balanced, and positively balanced. We show that it is necessary and sufficient that each agent's information processing errors be (1) nondeluded and balanced so that the agents cannot agree to disagree, (2) nondeluded and positively balanced so that it cannot be common knowledge that they are speculating, and (3) nondeluded and KTYK and nested so that agents cannot speculate in equilibrium. Each condition is strictly weaker than the next one, and the last is strictly weaker than partition information.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 739-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy A. Tassava ◽  
David J. Goldhamer ◽  
Bruce L. Tomlinson

Data from pulse and continuous labeling with [3H]thymidine and from studies with monoclonal antibody WE3 have led to the modification of existing models and established concepts pertinent to understanding limb regeneration. Not all cells of the adult newt blastema are randomly distributed and actively progressing through the cell cycle. Instead, many cells are in a position that we have designated transient quiescence (TQ) and are not actively cycling. We postulate that cells regularly leave the TQ population and enter the actively cycling population and vice versa. The size of the TQ population may be at least partly determined by the quantity of limb innervation. Larval Ambystoma may have only a small or nonexisting TQ, thus accounting for their rapid rate of regeneration. Examination of reactivity of monoclonal antibody WE3 suggests that the early wound epithelium, which is derived from skin epidermis, is later replaced by cells from skin glands concomitant with blastema formation. WE3 provides a useful tool to further investigate the regenerate epithelium.


Game Theory ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas S. Kovach ◽  
Alan S. Gibson ◽  
Gary B. Lamont

When dealing with conflicts, game theory and decision theory can be used to model the interactions of the decision-makers. To date, game theory and decision theory have received considerable modeling focus, while hypergame theory has not. A metagame, known as a hypergame, occurs when one player does not know or fully understand all the strategies of a game. Hypergame theory extends the advantages of game theory by allowing a player to outmaneuver an opponent and obtaining a more preferred outcome with a higher utility. The ability to outmaneuver an opponent occurs in the hypergame because the different views (perception or deception) of opponents are captured in the model, through the incorporation of information unknown to other players (misperception or intentional deception). The hypergame model more accurately provides solutions for complex theoretic modeling of conflicts than those modeled by game theory and excels where perception or information differences exist between players. This paper explores the current research in hypergame theory and presents a broad overview of the historical literature on hypergame theory.


2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-76
Author(s):  
Paweł Pisany

Abstract This article presents and assesses the methodology and results of a comparative analysis conducted by Bruno Amable in financial systems and corporate governance in the context of current policy and regulatory challenges. The article, which is based on a literature review and game theory examples, first describes and evaluates the methodology and final classification given by Amable. The role of Amable’s core concept; namely, institutional complementarity, is underlined. A game theory application in comparative institutional studies is then presented, including the author’s own “institutional game.” Finally, we assess Amable’s achievements in financial systems and corporate governance, concluding that they are valuable, innovative and useful despite some (perhaps justified) criticisms of the framework Amable used. In particular, the value of introducing institutional complementarity into comparative studies should not be underestimated. The analysis presented here suggests that Amable’s methodology may also be applicable when designing current financial reforms in the EU, especially European Capital Markets Union (CMU), because it can broaden policy maker’s horizons and promote consistent solutions.


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