Exam STV4102B, Normative Political Theory, Autumn 2011
Choose either Alternative 1 or Alternative 2 or Alternative 3 or Alternative 4
Alternative 1
Answer both A and B
A
English
“The state should promote well-being amongst the citizens by changing people’s preferences so that the preferences will become easier to satisfy.” Discuss.
Norsk
“Staten bør fremme trivsel (livskvalitet) blant innbyggerne ved å endre deres preferanser slik at preferansene blir lettere å tilfredsstille.” Drøft utsagnet.
B
English
Give an account of R Thaler and C Sunstein’s “Libertarian Paternalism”. Are Thaler and Sunstein right when they claim that their Libertarian Paternalism is “liberty preserving?”
Norsk
Gjør rede for R Thaler og C Sunsteins ”libertarianske paternalisme”. Har Thaler og Sunstein rett når de hevder at deres libertarianske paternalisme er “frihetsbevarende”?
Alternative 2
Answer both A and B
A
English
Below you see three textual extracts (1), (2) and (3). Identify the arguments in extract (1) and discuss whether these arguments are compatible with what Mill claims in extract (2) and (3).
Norsk
Nedenfor ser dere tre tekstutdrag. Identifiser først argumentene i det første tekstutdraget (1), og drøft dernest hvorvidt disse argumentene er forenlige med hva Mill hevder i tekstutdrag (2) og (3).
1
“In this and most other civilized countries (…) an engagement by which a person should sell himself, or allow himself to be sold, as a slave would be null and void (ugyldig og annullert), neither enforced by law nor by opinion. The ground for thus limiting his power of voluntarily disposing his own lot in life (velge sin egen livsskjebne) is apparent, and is very clearly seen in this extreme case. The reason for not interfering, unless for the sake of others, with a person’s voluntary acts is considerations for his liberty. His voluntary choice is evidence that what he so chooses is desirable, or at least endurable (til å tåle), to him, and his good is on the whole best provided for by allowing him to take his own means of pursuing it. By selling himself for a slave, he abdicates his liberty; he foregoes any future use of it beyond that single act. He therefore defeats, in his own case, the very purpose which is the justification of allowing him to dispose of himself. He is no longer free, but is thenceforth in a position which has no longer the presumption in its favor that would be afforded by his voluntarily remaining in it. The principle of freedom cannot require that he should be free not to be free. It is not freedom to be allowed to alienate (avhende) his freedom.”
2
“That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized society, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not a sufficient warrant. He can not rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinions of others, to do so would be wise or even right.”
3
“I regard utility as the ultimate appeal on all ethical questions; but it must be utility in the large sense, grounded on the permanent interests of man as a progressive being.”
B
English
In Libertarian Paternalism R Thaler and C Sunstein claim that is obvious that people do not always act in their best interest. Therefore, they suggest that the state should take measures in order to improve people’s decisions. Are there any arguments in Mill’s On Liberty which count in favour of Thaler and Sunstein’s proposals? Are there any grounds for characterizing Mill as a “Libertarian Paternalist?”
Norsk
I Libertarian Paternalism hevder R Thaler og C Sunstein at det er innlysende at folk ikke alltid handler i tråd med sin egen interesse. De foreslår derfor at myndighetene bør iverksette tiltak for at folk skal treffe bedre beslutninger. Foreligger det argumenter i Mills On Liberty som taler for og mot Thaler og Sunsteins forslag? Hvilket hold foreligger for å karakterisere Mill som en “libertariansk paternalist”?
Alternative 3
Answer both A and B
A
English
Discuss the following claims:
Norsk
Diskuter følgende utsagn:
“I distinguish among expensive tastes according to whether or not their bearers can be held responsible for the fact that they are expensive. There are those that they could not have helped forming and /or could not now unform without violating their own judgment, and then there are those for whose cost, by contrast, they can be held responsible, because they could have forestalled their development, and / or could now quite readily unlearn, without violating their own judgment.” (G A Cohen, Expensive Taste Rides Again.)
B
English
Is there a form of equality that is both ethically attractive and feasible as a basis for public policy?
Norsk
Finnes det en form for likhet som er både etisk attraktiv og som kan fungere i praktisk politikk?
Alternative 4
Answer both A and B
A
English
“The need to advance reasons that persuade others will help to shape the motivation that people bring to the deliberative procedure” (J Cohen). Discuss.
Norsk
“The need to advance reasons that persuade others will help to shape the motivation that people bring to the deliberative procedure” (J Cohen). Drøft.
B
English
When and where should deliberation take place in a modern democracy?
Norsk
Hvor og når bør deliberasjon finne sted i et moderne demokrati?
C
English
What measures should be taken in order to improve deliberation in a modern democracy?
Norsk
Hvilke tiltak bør bli tatt i bruk for å forbedre deliberasjon i et moderne demokrati?