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Courses / Modules / PHIL2045 Rationality, Preference, Wellbeing, and Fairness: Concepts in the Philosophy of Politics and Economics

Rationality, Preference, Wellbeing, and Fairness: Concepts in the Philosophy of Politics and Economics

When you'll study it
Semester 1
CATS points
15
ECTS points
7.5
Level
Level 5
Module lead
Alexander Gregory
Academic year
2025-26

Module overview

This module explores issues at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics, focusing on questions about the relevance of preference and wellbeing for government decision-making. What are preferences? How might they be relevant to good government decision-making? What is wellbeing? How might it be relevant to good government decision-making, and how might it connect with, or compete with, considerations to do with our preferences? What other considerations feed into government decision making that might compete with, or even undermine, these considerations? We will explore these questions both in the abstract, but also with concrete test cases - these will vary from year to year but might include topics such as overall tax rates, inheritance tax, public health interventions, and questions about healthcare spending priorities.