Psychology: Cognitive Biases and Ideal Societies

Study Notes

Biases and Ideal Theories

Humans have a dramatic instinct and overdramatic worldview, leading to systematically negative answers
Our knowledge is often outdated, and even those with the latest data can make the same mistakes
We suffer from a systematic bias

Ideal Theories of a "Good" Society

Hobbesian minimalism: minimal physical harm
Theocratic maximalism: maximal production of the "right" kind of human being
Four important ideal theories: Comprehensive Liberalism, Communitarianism, Utilitarianism, and Distributive Justice

Comprehensive Liberalism

Focuses on human freedom
Separates a public and private sphere, promoting tolerance
The chief virtue of a liberal citizen is tolerance
Government is constrained from intruding on the private sphere
Policy is used to promote liberal virtues of tolerance and civic pride

Communitarianism

Focuses on perfectionism: living according to one's own making is the essence of being human
Kantian autonomy: individuals should live according to their own making
Mill's fallibilism: individuals should be able to revise their beliefs as all human knowledge is potentially wrong
Natural rights: Locke's Natural Law and Nozick's self-ownership

Utilitarianism

Focuses on human wellbeing
Rightness of a policy or social organization depends on its consequences for net aggregate human wellbeing
Consequentialism: rightness of a policy depends on the goodness of the state of affairs it brings about
Welfarism: evaluation of states of affairs is based on their implications for human wellbeing
Treats individual welfares equally
Veil of Ignorance: Harsanyi and Rawl
Utilitarian improvement/optimum: rigorously measures costs and benefits to maximize aggregate wellbeing

Distributive Justice

Focuses on equality
A just society is one that conforms to two moral principles: life outcomes should not be determined by luck, and people are responsible for things within their control
The Difference Principle: unequal access to social primary goods is mere luck, and inequality should be arranged to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged
Dworkin (2000) argues that inequality of natural primary goods is also luck
What is the line between luck and preference (life choice)?
Structural injustice: equality to what?

Description

This quiz explores how our dramatic instincts and outdated knowledge can lead to systematic biases in our thinking. It also delves into ideal theories of what constitutes a 'good' society, including Hobbesian minimalism and theocratic maximalism.