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In this book, Vincent F. Hendricks draws on game theory, behavioral economics and moral philosophy in a scathing critique of what he calls whataboutmeism. A form of egoism in which life is viewed as a zero-sum game.
The colleague is promoted; a friend hangs out with another friend but not you; and your partner decides to spend the day off with the friends. Promptly we may ask: "What about me?!" Often enough the answer to that recurring question should simply be: "What about you? It's not about you!"
By systematically confusing autonomy with egoism and groupthink with democracy we develop and sustain this way of thinking. To overcome this trend of whataboutmeism we must take a hard look at ourselves, the games we play, the way we behave and discipline ourselves into realizing 'it's not all about me'.
Humorous, erudite yet scholarly, the book covers this prevalent trend in society that rages online as well as offline. By providing a full analysis of said trend based on game theory, behavioral economics and moral philosophy, the author helps us realise that it's not all about me. It's about us.
List of contents
Prologue.- 1: Life and zero-sum scenarios.- 2: The whataboutme game.- 3: Enough about me, what about you, what do you think of me?.- 4: Moral depravity.- 5: Seeing it coming a mile away.- 6: Separate spreadsheets.- 7: Coward or crook?.- 8: Work the problem, work together.- 9. What about you? It s about us!.- Acknowledgements.- Notes.
About the author
Vincent F. Hendricks, born 1970, is Professor of Formal Philosophy at The University of Copenhagen. He is Director of the Center for Information and Bubble Studies (CIBS) funded by the Carlsberg Foundation. A prolific writer he has been was awarded a number of prizes for his research among them The Elite Research Prize by the Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, The Roskilde Festival Elite Research Prize, Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title Award and The Rosenkjær Prize. He was Editor-in-Chief of Synthese: An International Journal for Epistemology, Methodology and Philosophy of Science between 2005-2015.
Summary
In this book, Vincent F. Hendricks draws on game theory, behavioral economics and moral philosophy in a scathing critique of what he calls whataboutmeism. A form of egoism in which life is viewed as a zero-sum game.
The colleague is promoted; a friend hangs out with another friend but not you; and your partner decides to spend the day off with the friends. Promptly we may ask: “What about me?!” Often enough the answer to that recurring question should simply be: “What about you? It’s not about you!”
By systematically confusing autonomy with egoism and groupthink with democracy we develop and sustain this way of thinking. To overcome this trend of whataboutmeism we must take a hard look at ourselves, the games we play, the way we behave and discipline ourselves into realizing ‘it’s not all about me’.
Humorous, erudite yet scholarly, the book covers this prevalent trend in society that rages online as well as offline. By providing a full analysis of said trend based on game theory, behavioral economics and moral philosophy, the author helps us realise that it’s not all about me. It’s about us.
