Nature and Culture: new thoughts for Economics and Pol. Science

The old debate on Nature and Culture has permeated the social sciences at every stages of their development, and the current period is no exception. Social theory is regularly enriched by ideas form the abstract Theory of Evolution, and from Anthropology.

Not only concepts but also research tools are used here. For instance, in their quest to deepen the debate about rational and cooperative behavior, researchers in economics and political science have been led to add to their tool-kit various techniques coming from experimental psychology, cognitive science, medical imaging, and even genetics.

We propose a one-day workshop to take stock of, and to discuss, some of these recent developments. Speakers will be:

• Jörgen Weibull (Stockholm School of Economics), on evolutionary game theory and the emergence of morality;
• Thierry Verdier (PSE, ENPC), on the cultural evolution of societies and their changing institutions;
• Aldo Rustichini (Université du Minnesota), on the input of genetic research for the study of social behavior;
• Maël Lebreton (PSE), on the biological and computational basis of economic and social behavior.
• Vincent de Gardelle (PSE, CNRS), on metacognition, its observation and measurement, and its importance for social life.

Program

9:30 – Welcome coffee

10:00 – Vincent de Gardelle (PSE, CNRS), “Metacognition: its observation and measurement, and its importance for social life”

11:15 – Jörgen Weibull (Stockholm School of Economics), “Evolutionary game theory and the emergence of morality”

12:30 – Lunch

14:00 – Maël Lebreton (PSE), “The biological and computational basis of economic and social behavior”

15:15 – Aldo Rustichini (Université du Minnesota), “The input of genetic research for the study of social behavior”

16:30 – Thierry Verdier (PSE, ENPC), “The cultural evolution of societies and their changing institutions”

17:45 – General discussion and pending questions

18:30 – End of the workshop