reTHINK Capitalism & Equality: Reconciling the Moral Balance Sheet of Capitalism
James Otteson, joint professor of philosophy and economics at Yeshiva University, will discuss the relationships between capitalism, morality and equality.
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| When | Feb 28, 2013 from |
| Where | Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville |
| Contact Name | GlyptusAnn Grider Jones |
| Contact Phone | 502-852-8811 |
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As the recent Occupy Wall Street protests reminded us, one of the central objections to capitalism is the inequality that it enables. The gap between the top and the the bottom income earners can be large–very large. But the worry is not merely about differences in how much people can afford to buy: There seems to be deeper social problems associated with great inequality. What exactly is the nature of these deeper problems? Why should we care about them? Does capitalism offer some benefit that compensates for these problems? What is capitalism's final moral balance sheet?
James Otteson will address these discussions using his 2002 book, Adam Smith's Marketplace of Life, as a guide. Otteson's lecture will consider how Adam Smith's works on economics and morality applies to his understanding of markets, language and other social institutions.
The event is part of the McConnell Center's 2012-2013 "reTHINK" free and public lecture series. No reservations required – bring family and friends!
About the Speaker
James Otteson is a joint professor of philosophy (department chair) and economics at Yeshiva University and adjunct professor of economics at New York University. He is also a senior scholar at the Fund for American Studies in Washington, DC, a research professor in the Freedom Center and Department of Philosophy at the University of Arizona and a research fellow at the Independent Institute in California.