** Update: registrations are now closed but some spaces might still be available. Please contact Melissa Vergara Fernández (see email below) in case you would want to attend the workshop.**

In the last few years we have witnessed several episodes that first challenged the worldview of many, and now even seem to be threatening democracy. Technology, for instance, source of development and economic growth, is challenging the employment possibilities of many, as well as the capacity of many to see the world beyond their computer screens. Likewise, trade and economic integration, identifying marks of capitalism, have fostered growth and taken millions out of poverty, but possibly at a higher cost than originally thought.  

The INEM conference, a gathering that brings together social scientists and philosophers, is an excellent opportunity to discuss some of these issues. For this reason, prior to the conference, the YSI Philosophy of Economics working group is organising a workshop.

Some more specific issues that are intended to be discussed at the workshop are:

• Democracy and threats to it by technology, capitalism and/or “alternative facts”; Or a challenge to the existence of such a threat?;
• The role of academia––especially philosophers, historians, political scientists––in finding solutions to such a situation, while at the same time accounting for the role that scientism may have had in bringing it about in the first place;
• Proposals such as a universal basic income as a viable alternative to solve issues of inequality, poverty, and thereby some of the sources of the threats to democracy.

Programme:

Download Programme in PDF. 

14.50	Registration
15.00	Welcome and Introduction
15.30	Roel Visser (Bielefeld): “Making Economics More Democratic: Lessons from the Use of ‘Decision Models’ in Economic Policy”
16.15	Donal Khosrowi (Durham University): “Value-Freedom and -Neutrality in Evidence-Based Policy”
17.00 - 17.30	Coffee/Tea Break
17.30 - 19.00	Sonja Amadae (MIT, Helsinki): “2007 Financial Collapse:  Imperfect Models or Imperfect Implementation?”
20.00	Dinner at La Madame

Any enquiries please direct them to Melissa Vergara Fernández: ysi[at]mvergarafernandez.nl