Inaugural Lecture Anna Mahtani (LSE Philosophy): ‘From probabilities to decisions’

Join us for Anna Mahtani’s inaugural lecture!

About the lecture: The idea of probabilities – and in particular ‘degrees of belief’ or ‘credences’ – is prevalent. It is used by scientists, economists and political theorists, and it plays a central role in policy choice: in deciding whether to carry out a particular health-care policy for example, the process for reaching a decision will almost certainly involve a calculation of credences. In this lecture Anna Mahtani will use an insight from the philosophy of language to argue that the objects of credence are ‘opaque’: in other words, it matters how the relevant object is described or designated. There are wide-ranging implications for welfare distribution and policy choice, and in this lecture she will explore some of these implications.

Meet our speaker and chair

Anna Mahtani works in the philosophy of language and decision-theory, and in particular the intersection between these areas. She has recently completed a book on the subject (The Objects of Credence) and is now beginning a new project on dementia and decision-theory. She is a professor at LSE in the the Department of Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method where she is Deputy Head of the Department.

Monday, 25 March, 6.30pm-7.30pm, Auditorium Centre Building.

There will be a reception of the lecture outside the Auditorium. 

Link to the live stream.