Problematic situations, preference change, and negotiations : a philosophical approach
For many of the large-scale problems facing humanity, individuals lack the power to address them on their own. We might call upon group agents such as states or corporations to solve them for us. Problems such as climate change, however, are of such a scope and magnitude that no single group agent can deal with them effectively. To achieve a cooperative solution, groups must negotiate with one another on how to address these problems. Contributing to our understanding of how humanity can deal with such large-scale problems, the present thesis offers a theory of negotiating group agents. After an introduction, chapters two, three, and four offer a philosophical reconstruction of the sociological Negotiated Order approach. At the core of these chapters is a pragmatist theory of motivational change in social contexts, which I contrast with standard rational choice theory. The Negotiated Order approach argues that many social phenomena, such as organisations, function based on motivational change occurring in the context of informal negotiations. Chapter five discusses group agency and argues that functionalist accounts of group agency are a promising approach for extending the Negotiated Order approach. The sixth
Strohmaier, David
Problematic situations, preference change, and negotiations : a philosophical approach. For many of the large-scale problems facing humanity, individuals lack the power to address them on their own. We might call upon group agents such as states or corporations to solve them for us. Problems such as climate change, however, are of such a scope and magnitude that no single group agent can deal with them effectively. To achieve a cooperative solution, groups must negotiate with one another on how to address these problems. Contributing to our understanding of how humanity can deal with such large-scale problems, the present thesis offers a theory of negotiating group agents. After an introduction, chapters two, three, and four offer a philosophical reconstruction of the sociological Negotiated Order approach. At the core of these chapters is a pragmatist theory of motivational change in social contexts, which I contrast with standard rational choice theory. The Negotiated Order approach argues that many social phenomena, such as organisations, function based on motivational change occurring in the context of informal negotiations. Chapter five discusses group agency and argues that functionalist accounts of group agency are a promising approach for extending the Negotiated Order approach. The sixth
problematic situation preference change negotiation philosophical approach many large_scale problem_face humanity individual lack power address own might_call upon group agent state corporation solve problems climate_change however scope magnitude single group agent deal effectively achieve cooperative solution group must negotiate one_another address_problem contributing humanity deal large_scale problem present offer theory negotiate group agent introduction three_four offer philosophical reconstruction sociological negotiated order approach core pragmatist theory motivational change social_context contrast standard rational_choice theory negotiated order argue many social_phenomenon organisation function base motivational change_occur context informal negotiation five_discus group agency argue functionalist account group agency promise extend negotiated order approach sixth