Thomas Schelling's "Choice and Consequence" investigates situations where rational decision-making is unclear, using examples like nuclear terrorism, blackmail, daydreaming, and euthanasia. The book examines ethical issues intertwined with economics and identifies ethical quandaries that are incorrectly framed or not actually present.
The book's scope covers topics ranging from the dramatic to the personal, all within the context of understanding choices and their outcomes. It aims to clarify misidentified ethical issues and reveal the complex interplay between ethics and economic considerations.
Key concepts
- Ambiguous Rationality — Situations where the standard rules of rational decision-making are unclear or do not readily apply.
- Ethical Issues Wrapped Up in Economics — Moral considerations that are intrinsically linked to economic transactions or principles.
- Misplaced Ethical Issues — Ethical problems that are incorrectly identified or wrongly attributed to a particular context.
- Misidentified Ethical Issues — Ethical problems that are recognized but fundamentally misunderstood in their nature or scope.