title: Nozick's experience machine thought experiment has many problems, but the freebie problem ain't one of ‘em

authors: Weijers, Dan M.

abstract: For at least 30 years, many have argued that Robert Nozick’s Experience Machine thought experiment is the basis of a knockdown argument against mental state theories of wellbeing. In the last 10 years, a few objecting voices, and mounting empirical evidence, have provided strong reason to doubt this “knockdown” status. Even more recently, Eden Lin has constructed a revised Experience Machine thought experiment that intends to avoid these criticisms. In this paper, we illustrate that Lin’s revised thought experiment structure suffers from the ‘Freebie Problem’. This problem can be seen in thought experiments that investigate intrinsic value through the comparison of cases that are identical in all aspects except for a costless good present in one of the cases. We argue that these costless goods, or ‘freebies’, interfere with readers’ judgment making processes, leading thought experiments with the freebie problem to be unfit-for-purpose. As such, Lin has just traded the old set of problems for a new problem, leaving us still wondering whether experience machine thought experiments can help us learn anything about the plausibility of mental state theories of wellbeing.

text: Nozick's experience machine thought experiment has many problems, but the freebie problem ain't one of ‘em For at least 30 years, many have argued that Robert Nozick’s Experience Machine thought experiment is the basis of a knockdown argument against mental state theories of wellbeing. In the last 10 years, a few objecting voices, and mounting empirical evidence, have provided strong reason to doubt this “knockdown” status. Even more recently, Eden Lin has constructed a revised Experience Machine thought experiment that intends to avoid these criticisms. In this paper, we illustrate that Lin’s revised thought experiment structure suffers from the ‘Freebie Problem’. This problem can be seen in thought experiments that investigate intrinsic value through the comparison of cases that are identical in all aspects except for a costless good present in one of the cases. We argue that these costless goods, or ‘freebies’, interfere with readers’ judgment making processes, leading thought experiments with the freebie problem to be unfit-for-purpose. As such, Lin has just traded the old set of problems for a new problem, leaving us still wondering whether experience machine thought experiments can help us learn anything about the plausibility of mental state theories of wellbeing.

year: 2018

title: Clash of Rationalities: Revisiting the trade and environment debate in light of WTO disputes over green industrial policy

authors: Bigdeli, Sadeq Z.

abstract: Climate Change has found its way into the World Trade Organization through the backdoor of the profitable and contentious trade in solar and wind energy technologies. In addition to the Ontario FIT dispute critically examined in this article, there are at least five other active disputes in Geneva over aspects of trade in wind and solar technologies, with more on the horizon.

 Solar panels constitute a significant part of China’s total export sales in the EU and for more than two years its trade has overheated EU-China relations. The anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations that resulted have now culminated in a tentative settlement to bring Chinese solar panel prices to a “sustainable” level. Winds have been blowing more strongly on the other side of the Atlantic, though in a similar direction, where the US imposed record high rates of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese (and Vietnamese) wind towers, as well as silicon solar panels. The political economy unfolding in both cases has been quite similar: on one side - claiming unfair trade allegedly committed by the Chinese exporters - are the import-competing manufacturers of Renewable Energy (`RE’) technology, and on the other side, the rest of the RE industry, particularly generators in whose interest it is to have access to the best and cheapest equipment, regardless of origin.

text: Clash of Rationalities: Revisiting the trade and environment debate in light of WTO disputes over green industrial policy Climate Change has found its way into the World Trade Organization through the backdoor of the profitable and contentious trade in solar and wind energy technologies. In addition to the Ontario FIT dispute critically examined in this article, there are at least five other active disputes in Geneva over aspects of trade in wind and solar technologies, with more on the horizon.

 Solar panels constitute a significant part of China’s total export sales in the EU and for more than two years its trade has overheated EU-China relations. The anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations that resulted have now culminated in a tentative settlement to bring Chinese solar panel prices to a “sustainable” level. Winds have been blowing more strongly on the other side of the Atlantic, though in a similar direction, where the US imposed record high rates of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese (and Vietnamese) wind towers, as well as silicon solar panels. The political economy unfolding in both cases has been quite similar: on one side - claiming unfair trade allegedly committed by the Chinese exporters - are the import-competing manufacturers of Renewable Energy (`RE’) technology, and on the other side, the rest of the RE industry, particularly generators in whose interest it is to have access to the best and cheapest equipment, regardless of origin.

year: 2014

title: A study of iwi communication between Te Tau Ihu iwi and intergenerational diasporic whānau

authors: Wright, Karamea Moana

subjects: diaspora

abstract: This study looks at the online communication methods used between Te Tau Ihu iwi and intergenerational uri who live in the diaspora. Preferences and perceptions of methods of communication utilized by both iwi, and tāngata who live in the overseas diaspora were explored. Most important are the implications for uri living away from Aotearoa, and their desire to remain connected to iwi in New Zealand. This is a mixed methods study, comprising of a survey of fifty-eight emigrant respondents living abroad, and interviews with one member of the first, second, and third generations of emigrants to the United States, with affiliation to at least one of the eight tribes who claim tāngata whenua status of Te Tau Ihu.

The implications of the findings from the study provide both iwi and tāngata the opportunity to create a synergistic relationship of communicating. Assisting iwi to develop and implement a strategy for relevant communication, and iwi members engaging in a dialogue with iwi about relevance of communication is critical in strengthening ties between iwi and future generations regardless of location. “He aha te mea nui, he tangata, he tangata.”

text: A study of iwi communication between Te Tau Ihu iwi and intergenerational diasporic whānau This study looks at the online communication methods used between Te Tau Ihu iwi and intergenerational uri who live in the diaspora. Preferences and perceptions of methods of communication utilized by both iwi, and tāngata who live in the overseas diaspora were explored. Most important are the implications for uri living away from Aotearoa, and their desire to remain connected to iwi in New Zealand. This is a mixed methods study, comprising of a survey of fifty-eight emigrant respondents living abroad, and interviews with one member of the first, second, and third generations of emigrants to the United States, with affiliation to at least one of the eight tribes who claim tāngata whenua status of Te Tau Ihu.

The implications of the findings from the study provide both iwi and tāngata the opportunity to create a synergistic relationship of communicating. Assisting iwi to develop and implement a strategy for relevant communication, and iwi members engaging in a dialogue with iwi about relevance of communication is critical in strengthening ties between iwi and future generations regardless of location. “He aha te mea nui, he tangata, he tangata.”

year: 2019