Date of Award
Fall 12-2010
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Eddy Nahmias
Second Advisor
Bill Edmundson
Third Advisor
Andrew I. Cohen
Abstract
Humans have now amassed a sizable knowledge of widespread, nonconscious cognitive biases which affect our behavior, especially in social and economic contexts. I contend that a democratic government is uniquely justified in using knowledge of cognitive biases to promote pro-democratic behavior, conditionally justified in using it to accomplish ends traditionally within the scope of government authority, and unjustified in using it for any other purpose. I also contend that the government ought to redesign institutional infrastructure to avoid triggering cognitive biases where it is not permitted intentionally to manipulate such biases and to optimize the effects of such biases where permissible. I shall use the United States of America as an example throughout, but my conclusions apply equally to any democracy which values the political autonomy of its populace.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1598884
Recommended Citation
Brown, J. Aaron, "Special Problems for Democratic Government in Leveraging Cognitive Bias: Ethical, Political, and Policy Considerations for Implementing Libertarian Paternalism." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2010.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1598884