Introduction to Social Choice Theory: decisions, cooperation, competition, justice
General data
Course ID: | 3500-SSZCZ-WTWS |
Erasmus code / ISCED: |
14.2
|
Course title: | Introduction to Social Choice Theory: decisions, cooperation, competition, justice |
Name in Polish: | Wprowadzenie do teorii wyboru społecznego: decyzje, kooperacja, konkurencja, sprawiedliwość. |
Organizational unit: | Faculty of Sociology |
Course groups: | |
ECTS credit allocation (and other scores): |
3.00
|
Language: | Polish |
Type of course: | elective courses |
Mode: | Classroom |
Short description: |
The aim of the course is to present basics of Social Choice Theory. The theory examines properties of methods of social decision making. Social decisions can be decisions taken in general elections, decisions taken in decision-making bodies (parliaments, councils, committees, international organizations); on the other hand - they may be decisions regarding group (eg the distribution of goods or encumbrances between its members). Social decisions are generally taken in a formalized way, using strictly defined procedures. The assessment of these procedures may include their compliance with the principles of democracy (which require precise wording), standards of justice (also requiring definition), respect for individual rights and group autonomy, and, on the other hand, compliance with various rationality criteria. |
Full description: |
The aim of the course is to present basics of Social Choice Theory. The theory examines properties of methods of social decision making. Social decisions can be decisions taken in general elections, decisions taken in decision-making bodies (parliaments, councils, committees, international organizations); on the other hand - they may be decisions regarding group (eg the distribution of goods or encumbrances between its members). Social decisions are generally taken in a formalized way, using strictly defined procedures. The assessment of these procedures may include their compliance with the principles of democracy (which require precise wording), standards of justice (also requiring definition), respect for individual rights and group autonomy, and, on the other hand, compliance with various rationality criteria. The basic blocks of classes will include: introduction to the theory of individual decisions and utility theory, the basis of the theory of social decisions and methods of aggregation of preferences and their practical implementation in the form of voting methods and electoral systems; criteria for democracy, rationality, and respect for individual rights; methods of equitable distribution of goods and theirs relation to proportional representation methods. Course topics 1. The theory of social choice - basic concepts and issues 2. Choice, preferences, utility, risk. 3. Individual rationality and its limitations 4. Individual decisions in conditions of uncertainty 5. Social decisions: the problem of aggregation of individual decisions 6. Democratic decisions. Paradoxes of preference aggregation 7. "Majority" voting 8. Social choice and autonomy of individuals and groups 9. Decisions in the conditions of strategic interaction: game theory 10. Fair distribution of goods and burdens - introduction 11. Problems of proportional distribution and proportional electoral systems 12. Game theory and the distribution of goods: N-person games in the form of a characteristic function 13. Division of goods in a case of diversified rights and strategic position 14. Specific problems of division of indivisible goods |
Bibliography: |
Haman, J. 2003. Demokracja, decyzje, wybory. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar. Lissowski, G. (red.). 2001. Elementy teorii wyboru społecznego. Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar. Bożykowski, M. 2012. Problem podziału zbioru dóbr niepodzielnych w sytuacji nierównych uprawnień. „Decyzje” 18: 25-47. Kamiński, M.M. 1994. Twierdzenie Arrowa: przykład zastosowania metody aksjomatycznej w naukach społecznych. „Studia Socjologiczne” Nr 3-4, 73 92. Szaniawski, K. 1971. Kryteria podejmowania decyzji. W: Kozielecki, J. (red.), Problemy psychologii matematycznej. PWN, 303-324. |
Learning outcomes: |
Knows and understands basic sociological concepts Has basic knowledge about social structures and selected social institutions, and their interrelations Understands the social nature of relationships between individuals, social groups and social institutions Has basic knowledge about the mechanisms of social group dynamics and interdependencies between groups and individuals Has basic knowledge of the criteria of inference correctness Understands the specificity of sociological analysis Has basic knowledge of the norms and rules governing social structures and institutions Has basic knowledge about the functioning of the economy and its relations with other social institutions Has rudimentary knowledge about the functioning and management of various types of organizations Has basic knowledge of politics and participation of society in the public sphere Is aware of the processes occurring in Polish and global society and their consequences for social attitudes and institutions Has basic knowledge about the current needs and problems of Polish society and changes occurring in this area Knows the most important processes and ideas of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, which have shaped the face of the modern world Is aware of the consequences of choosing a particular theoretical perspective Can record and observe social phenomena in a methodologically correct way Can interpret past and present social events (political, cultural, and economic) using sociological concepts and theories Can use basic sociological terms and categories to analyze societies, particularly contemporary Polish society Can independently find facts and materials needed to conduct simple sociological analyses, using various sources in both Polish and a foreign language, and using modern technologies Can independently form simple judgments on the causes of selected social processes and phenomena Can conduct a simple analysis of the consequences of the processes occurring in modern societies Can prepare a simple, descriptive scenario predicting the course of social processes and phenomena Can use ethical norms and rules in research practice Can use academic knowledge acquired in social practice Can select proper research methods and techniques to conduct an analysis of a particular problem Can discuss measures presented as solutions to particular social problems (in micro and macro scale), based on acquired knowledge Can formulate a general evaluation of a measure undertaken to solve a particular social problem, based on acquired knowledge Can form judgments on motives of human behavior and predict its social consequences Can comprehend a scientific text and identify its main theses and the author’s arguments, as well as discuss them Can share the acquired sociological knowledge Can find, gather and synthesize information about social phenomena Can argue a thesis Can properly use sources of scientific information Is aware of the consequences of ongoing projects |
Assessment methods and assessment criteria: |
written exam, attendance written retake exam |
Classes in period "Winter semester 2023/24" (past)
Time span: | 2023-10-01 - 2024-01-28 |
Navigate to timetable
MO TU W TH WYK
FR |
Type of class: |
Lecture, 30 hours, 30 places
|
|
Coordinators: | Jacek Haman | |
Group instructors: | Jacek Haman | |
Students list: | (inaccessible to you) | |
Examination: |
Course -
Examination
Lecture - Examination |
Copyright by University of Warsaw.