Roberto Fumagalli
Project Title The Neuroscience Case in Favour of Paternalism: a Philosophical Critique
Project Description In the recent literature at the interface between economics, psychology and neuroscience, several authors manifest the ambition to evaluate peopleís decisions according to a normative perspective. In particular, they aim to identify not just how to achieve a given objective, but also what objectives agents should pursue in specific situations. The idea is that satisfying peopleís preferences does not necessarily make them better off and that neuro-psychological findings enable us to help people choose what promotes their well-being. During my visit at the CPNSS, I plan to investigate the normative significance of neuro-psychological research concerning decision making for economic welfare analyses and policy evaluations. In particular, I shall assess some potential uses of neuro-psychological evidence for public health considerations.