Jonathan Aldred Books
Jonathan Aldred is a British economist and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. His research focuses on ethics and economics, particularly the moral assumptions underlying economic theory and policy.
Known for: Licence to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us, License to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us
Books by Jonathan Aldred
Licence to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us
Licence to Be Bad explores how modern economic theories have reshaped our moral and social landscape. Jonathan Aldred traces the influence of ideas such as free-riding, game theory, and rational choic...
License to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us
In this provocative work, economist Jonathan Aldred explores how modern economic thinking has reshaped our moral landscape. He argues that the rise of free-market ideology has encouraged selfishness, ...
Key Insights from Jonathan Aldred
The Rise of Rational Choice
The transformation begins with rational choice theory—the proud cornerstone of modern economics. The idea appears simple enough: people act rationally to maximize their satisfaction, choosing whatever option serves their self-interest best. The seduction lies in its elegance and mathematical clarity...
From Licence to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us
Game Theory and Strategic Thinking
If rational choice provides the grammar, game theory supplies the syntax of modern cynicism. Developed in the mid-twentieth century, game theory brought the drama of competition to life using models of players, payoffs, and strategies. Its influence extended far beyond economics, shaping military st...
From Licence to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us
Historical Foundations
To understand how economics drifted from moral philosophy into a detached science, we must start with its origins. In the eighteenth century, thinkers like Adam Smith and David Hume did not see economics and ethics as separate spheres. For Smith, self-interest was not a celebration of selfishness bu...
From License to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us
The Rise of Rational Choice Theory
By the mid-twentieth century, economics had reimagined human behavior through the lens of rational choice. Homo economicus was born: a being who calculates, optimizes, and pursues self-interest with machine-like consistency. Rational choice theory offered mathematical elegance and predictive clarity...
From License to Be Bad: How Economics Corrupted Us
About Jonathan Aldred
Jonathan Aldred is a British economist and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. His research focuses on ethics and economics, particularly the moral assumptions underlying economic theory and policy.
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Jonathan Aldred is a British economist and Fellow of Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge. His research focuses on ethics and economics, particularly the moral assumptions underlying economic theory and policy.
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