The Social World, Reexamined: A Conversation with Brian Epstein

Description

This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Brian Epstein, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University. Brian Epstein's career as a management consultant piqued his interest and his later research into the reasons why our current models of economics, politics and other areas of social science so often go terribly wrong. The conversation explores how we can dramatically improve our current economic and political models by reexamining our assumptions about the nature of the social world. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction,The Real World, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: Wondering About the World - A philosophical journey Empirical Influences - From management consultancy to metaphysics Unquestioned Assumptions - The cult of the individual Beyond Emergence - A Supreme Value Ontological Examinations - Grounding and anchoring Better Models - Beyond agent-based thinking Modelling Concerns - Fear of mushiness Getting Specific - Modelling corruption No, We Can't - The impact of a small political gene pool Responses and Reactions - The good, the bad, and the ugly The Value of Breadth - Appreciating the humanities Learning Our Lessons? - Or perhaps not Applied Philosophy - The "social turn" About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series (100 books): Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. Howard Burton holds a PhD in physics and an MA in philosophy, and was the Founding Director of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.