Passions, Preferences, and the Politics of Self-Binding 🎭⚖️
Why do individuals and societies sometimes choose to limit their own future freedom?
In this lecture, Professor Jon Elster, one of the world’s leading political theorists, examines the paradox of self-binding—how people and institutions deliberately impose constraints on themselves to manage passions, preferences, and collective decision-making.
Drawing on philosophy, political science, and examples from history, Elster explores the mechanisms and consequences of self-binding, from personal commitments to constitutional design.
What to expect:
- 🧠 Insights into the theory of self-binding and its role in politics and ethics
- 📜 Historical and contemporary examples of individuals and societies constraining their own choices
- ⚖️ Reflections on rationality, freedom, and the tension between autonomy and constraint