Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 269 | Sahar Heydari Fard on Complexity, Justice, and Social Dynamics
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Mar 18, 2024 In a fascinating conversation, Sahar Heydari Fard, an assistant professor of philosophy at Ohio State University, dives deep into the nexus of complexity theory and social dynamics. She discusses how small shifts can lead to substantial societal change, emphasizing the importance of reevaluating normative claims. Through examples like historical foot binding, she illustrates the challenges of altering entrenched traditions. Heydari Fard also explores collective action problems, highlighting how cooperation can be undermined by self-interest, ultimately shaping our understanding of justice and societal improvement.
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Just So Stories & Social Assumptions
- Societal assumptions, often based on small-scale interactions, can be flawed when applied to larger populations.
- Modeling helps test these assumptions and determine if intuitions remain reliable guides for action.
Defining Complexity
- Complexity describes stable aggregate phenomena arising from diverse individual actors without central control.
- This emergent stability, requiring coordination, constrains individual behavior while allowing for dynamic change.
Foot-binding and Social Equilibrium
- The practice of foot-binding, initially driven by a king's preference, became a cultural norm despite its harm.
- This demonstrates how stable, yet harmful, practices can persist due to interconnected social factors.