Dear All,
In our next week’s Perspectives on Science Seminar, Magdalena Małecka (University of Copenhagen) will give a talk titled “Theories of decision-making in economics from the perspective of integrated history and philosophy of science in practice”.
The seminar will take place in Metsätalo room 10 and online on Zoom from 14:15 to 15:45 on Monday, May 18, 2026.
Perspectives on Science is a research seminar that brings together experts from the philosophy of science and several fields of science studies. It is organized by TINT – Centre for Philosophy of Social Science at the University of Helsinki. More information about the seminar can be found on the TINT webpage https://tint.helsinki.fi.
What: “Theories of decision-making in economics from the perspective of integrated history and philosophy of science in practice” by Magdalena Małecka
When: Monday, 18.05.2026, from 2 to 4 pm (EEST, Helsinki time).
Where: Metsätalo room 10 and Zoom.
Zoom link: Contact mirja-leena.zgurskaya@helsinki.fi for the Zoom link.
Abstract:
“Theories of decision-making in economics from the perspective of integrated history and philosophy of science in practice”
During my talk I will reflect on the promises and challenges of doing philosophy of economics from the perspective of integrated history and philosophy of science and philosophy of science in practice. To this effect, I will overview the main outcomes of my interventions into debates on the normative/descriptive status of the so-called rational choice theory and on the applications of the behavioral sciences, including behavioral economics, to policy. Afterwards, I will zoom in my focus on the studies of decision-making in economics and behavioral science. I will ask to what extent the insights of historians of modern economics and its Cold War origins and methodological remarks of some practicing economists and computer scientists can make us question the philosophical analyses of theories of decision-making in economics and behavioral research. In particular, I will examine if these historical and methodological insights shed a new light on the understanding of posited targets of these theories and to what philosophical consequences. The talk reports on ongoing work in progress.
Bio:
Magdalena Małecka is an Assistant Professor in History and Philosophy of the Formal Sciences at the University of Copenhagen and a Docent at the University of Helsinki. She has undertaken research at Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, Stanford University, Columbia University, Central European University, European University Institute, University of California, Berkeley. Magdalena combines insights from history of economic thought, STS and feminist philosophy of science to develop her philosophical perspective on modern economics. She has published on behavioural public policy and behavioural economics, decision theory, values in economics, economics imperialism, law & economics. Her recent research, funded by the European Research Council (Consolidator Grant ENCODED), focuses on the ways in which computer technology has transformed modern economics and on philosophical implications of this transformation.
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If you have any questions about the seminar, do not hesitate to contact mirja-leena.zgurskaya@helsinki.fi.