Laws, Markets, and Religions

This full-year seminar will explore articles and books that help to illuminate the characteristic attributes and the relative advantages and disadvantages of four major systems of social control: legal systems, markets, social groups, and the world religions. The readings may also provide comparative insight into the scope and the historical development of these differing systems. Readings will be chosen from a broad array of social-science disciplines, including sociology, psychology, evolutionary theory, and behavioral law and economics. Students will be required to write a short response paper about the readings for each session of the seminar. Sessions will usually be scheduled on an every-other-week basis during the fall and spring semesters.