A Crossroads, not an Island: A Response to Hanoch Dagan

6 Pages Posted: 4 Jan 2019

See all articles by Zoë Hitzig

Zoë Hitzig

Harvard University - Department of Economics

E. Glen Weyl

Plural Technology Collaboratory, Microsoft Research Special Projects; Plurality Institute; GETTING-Plurality Research Network

Date Written: December 26, 2018

Abstract

Hanoch Dagan critiques Radical Markets for insufficient attention to the value of autonomy. While most of his concrete disagreements result from miscommunications, he appears sympathetic to a theory of autonomy, which is more widespread and deserves response. Human agency is fundamentally social, and individuality is primarily constituted by the unique set of social connections and identities one adopts. In this sense, flourishing individuals are crossroads of different communities not self-sufficient islands. Beyond any welfarist benefits, a fundamental value of Radical Markets is that they aim to instantiate the social nature of identity and empower agency through diverse community.

Keywords: individualism, communitarianism, public goods, autonomy

JEL Classification: A12, B40, B50, D63

Suggested Citation

Hitzig, Zoë and Weyl, Eric Glen, A Crossroads, not an Island: A Response to Hanoch Dagan (December 26, 2018). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3306738 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3306738

Zoë Hitzig

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Eric Glen Weyl (Contact Author)

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HOME PAGE: http://www.glenweyl.com

Plurality Institute ( email )

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