269 | Sahar Heydari Fard on Complexity, Justice, and Social Dynamics
Mar 18, 2024
01:11:01
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Exploring how social change can be achieved through complexity theory and justice. Delving into game theory, societal norms, and collective action. Embracing diversity for societal stability and navigating complex epistemic landscapes in decision-making.
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Quick takeaways
Complex systems theory provides new perspectives on creating a just society through societal dynamics research.
Game theory models human interactions to understand collective outcomes and promote fair interactions.
Communication, accountability, and network embedding are essential for promoting cooperation and the collective good within society.
Deep dives
Using Indeed - The Power of Matching Over Searching
Indeed emphasizes the effectiveness of their platform in enhancing the hiring process by focusing on matching instead of traditional search methods. With over 350 million monthly visitors and a sophisticated matching engine, Indeed streamlines the recruitment process, allowing employers to find quality candidates quickly. By utilizing Indeed for tasks like scheduling, screening, and messaging, employers can connect with potential hires efficiently. The platform's matching engine continuously learns from user preferences, improving its recommendations over time.
Complexity Theory in Philosophy and Society
Philosopher Sahar Haderifar from Ohio State University discusses how complexity theory influences her work in political science and philosophy. By applying complex systems research to societal dynamics, she navigates the intricate nature of interactions in society. This approach sheds light on understanding societal structures, transitions, and behaviors, offering new perspectives on creating a just society. Complexity theory provides insights into societal organization beyond traditional analytical and statistical models.
Game Theory and Collective Action - Strategies for Social Dynamics
The conversation delves into game theory's role in modeling human interactions, particularly in situations like the prisoner's dilemma and collective action problems. Through game theoretic frameworks, the podcast explores how individuals' decisions impact collective outcomes and equilibrium states. By extending game theory to complex social dynamics, such as coordination games and cooperation evolution, the discussion highlights the philosophical implications of resolving conflicts and promoting fair interactions in society.
The Role of Communication and Accountability in Promoting Collective Good
Communication and accountability play crucial roles in promoting the collective good within society. While communication allows individuals to persuade each other to act in certain ways for the benefit of the group, accountability ensures that promises and agreements are upheld. Without mechanisms to hold individuals accountable, mere communication may not lead to desired outcomes. The significance of repeated interactions and being embedded in a network is highlighted as effective ways to ensure accountability and promote cooperation.
Complexity Theory and Social Justice
Complexity theory provides unique insights into social justice and societal organization, contrasting traditional views. It emphasizes the importance of stability, persistence, and diversity in maintaining functional societies. By exploring non-equilibrium systems and considering energy requirements for stability, complexity theory sheds light on the need for diversity and adaptability in societal structures. It challenges idealistic views of political justice and advocates for incremental improvements over grand, fixed goals, acknowledging the ever-changing conditions of society.
When it comes to social change, two questions immediately present themselves: What kind of change do we want to see happen? And, how do we bring it about? These questions are distinct but related; there's not much point in spending all of our time wanting change that won't possibly happen, or working for change that wouldn't actually be good. Addressing such issues lies at the intersection of philosophy, political science, and social dynamics. Sahar Heydari Fard looks at all of these issues through the lens of complex systems theory, to better understand how the world works and how it might be improved.
Sahar Heydari Fard received a Masters in applied economics and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently an assistant professor in philosophy at the Ohio State University. Her research lies at the intersection of social and behavioral sciences, social and political philosophy, and ethics, using tools from complex systems theory.