Discussion Questions for September 25 and September 27, 2006
1. How would you compare Allais' problem or paradox to the results of the Kahneman and Tversky framing experiment. Do the two phenomena show similar failures of rationality? What is there to learn from Allais' problem that we cannot learn from the Kahneman and Tversky framing experiment?
2. Can preferences themselves be irrational, what do you think? What about future Tuesday indifference?
3. Why does Broome maintain that the theory of rationality needs to take a stand concerning the rationality or irrationality of at least some individual preferences?
4. What is the point of the real-estate agent example? What does it show us about the relationship between reasons and causes? Do you think that Davidson is right to maintain that some reasons are also causes?
5. Why are economists not more disturbed by phenomena such as preference reversals or the framing sensitivity shown by Kahneman and Tversky?