Ulysses Unbound ：Studies in Rationality, Precommitment, and Constraints

Publication subTitle ：Studies in Rationality, Precommitment, and Constraints

Author： Jon Elster  

Publisher： Cambridge University Press‎

Publication year： 2000

E-ISBN: 9780511825750

P-ISBN(Paperback): 9780521662130

Subject： B842 心理过程与心理状态

Keyword： 政治理论,哲学理论

Language： ENG

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Ulysses Unbound

Description

Common sense suggests that it is always preferable to have more options than fewer, and better to have more knowledge than less. This provocative book argues that, very often, common sense fails. Sometimes it is simply the case that less is more; people may benefit from being constrained in their options or from being ignorant. The three long essays that constitute this book revise and expand the ideas developed in Jon Elster's classic study Ulysses and the Sirens. It is not simply a new edition of the earlier book, though; many of the issues merely touched on before are explored here in much more detail. Elster shows how seemingly disparate examples which limit freedom of action reveal similar patterns, so much so that he proposes a new field of study: constraint theory. The book is written in Elster's characteristically vivid style and will interest professionals and students in philosophy, political science, psychology, and economics.

Chapter

Cover

Title

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments

I. Ulysses Revisited: How and Why PeopleBind Themselves

I.1 Introduction: Constraint Theory

I.2 Passion as a Reason for Self-Binding

I.3 Time-Inconsistency and Discounting

I.4 Time-Inconsistency and Strategic Behavior

I.5 Passion as a Device for Self-Binding

I.6 Variations on a Russian Nobleman

I.7 Addiction and Precommitment

I.8 Obstacles, Objections, and Alternatives

II. Ulysses Unbound: Constitutions as Constraints

II.1. Introducation

II.2 Disanalogies with Individual Precommitment

II.3 The Nature and Structure of Constitutions

II.4 Constraints on Constitution-Making

II.5 Two Levels of Constitutional Precommitment

II.6 Self-Binding in Athenian Politics

II.7 Interest and Passion in Philadelphia and Paris

II.8 Time-Inconsistency, Discounting, and Delays

II.9 Omnipotence, Strategic Behavior, and Separation of Powers

II.10 Efficiency

II.11 Obstacles and Objections

II.12 Ulysses Unbound

III Less Is More: Creativity and Constraints in the Arts

III.1 Introduction

III.2 Daydreaming: Creativity Without Constraints

III.3 Constraints and Conventions in the Arts

III.4 Constraints, Value, and Creativity

III.5 Originality, Authenticity, and Creativity

III.6 The Hays Code

III.7 Lucien Leuwen as an Empty Se

III.8 Randomization in the Arts

III.9 Creativity and Constraints in Jazz

III. 10 Obstacles and Objections

Coda

Reference

Index

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