Wagga philosophy seminar, tomorrow (21 May) by Steve Clarke

[Cohen, Daniel]

Thursday, May 21, 5.15 pm

Steve Clarke (CAPPE)

Title: Are Conservatives Risk Averse?

Abstract: Philosophers, as well as psychologists, often assert that political conservatives are risk averse. The only consideration that ever appears to be offered in support of this assertion is the observation that conservatives prefer to avoid the risks involved in significant social and political change, if they can. In this paper I argue that this observation cannot be an adequate basis for the conclusion that conservatives are risk averse. However, I do not conclude that we should give up on the conclusion that conservatives are risk averse. I draw on prospect theory to locate reasons that provide a separate source of warrant for this conclusion.

Location: Room 212, Marchant Hall, CSU Wagga Wagga.

Also available by videolink at our Canberra campus: Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics (CSU), Level 1, 10-12 Brisbane Avenue, Barton 2600. (Take the lift to level 1 and ring the doorbell at the door to your right).

For further information about Wagga philosophy seminars, see: waggaphilosophy.com

Daniel Cohen
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy | School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Charles Sturt University
Boorooma St
Wagga Wagga, 2678
Australia
Tel: +61 2 6933 2565
Email: dco...@csu.edu.au

Charles Sturt University

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[Cohen, Daniel]

Thursday, June 4, 5.15 pm

Steve Matthews (Australian Catholic University)

Title: Habit and addiction

Abstract: Addiction is sometimes regarded as no more serious than ‘a habit’. This description makes it sound like those with addiction problems could easily stop. For, as might be claimed, everyone has habits good and bad, and pretty much everyone is able, with some willpower and good tactics, to control their habits. It would be nice if this was true in all cases of addictions, particularly to highly addictive substances like tobacco. Unfortunately it is not. Nevertheless, it might be too hasty to give up on the idea that addiction is a kind of habit after all. To that end I intend to explore the conceptual territory of habit and addiction in order to see whether the former might shed any useful light on the latter. I am reasonably optimistic that it can for both interesting and surprising reasons.