The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Lecture Series Announces Fall 2024 Speakers

The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) Program will host four speakers in Fall 2024 for the PPE Lecture Series.  

The PPE Lecture Series allows faculty and students to hear about pressing issues from leading academics with an interdisciplinary approach. This Fall 2024 series is a collaboration between the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Institute for Governance and Civics. 

Details about this semester’s lectures can be found below.


The Many American Constitutions

Wednesday, September 18 at 6 p.m., HWC 3504 

Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland John Wallis, Ph.D., will give a lecture called “The Many American Constitutions.” This lecture is presented by the Institute for Governance and Civics. 

The United States has a famously federal government structure. Less appreciated is its federal constitutional structure, with one national constitution and, today, fifty state constitutions. This talk will discuss the national constitution’s role in American history in light of the concurrent state constitutions.


How to Run Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite

Thursday, September 26 at 6 p.m., BEL 180 

Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Tampa Abigail Hall, Ph.D., will give a lecture titled “How to Run Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite,” relating to her 2024 book of the same name. 

The author of “How to Run Wars: A Confidential Playbook for the National Security Elite” will use satire and scholarship to highlight the absurd in what has become widely accepted across decades of experience with military intervention.   


Robots and Democracy

Thursday, October 17 at 6 p.m., BEL 180 

Professor of Political Science at the University of California San Diego Erik Gartzke, Ph.D., will give a talk titled “Robots and Democracy.” 

Technology is increasingly replacing human labor in military organizations. In this talk, Dr. Gartzke will explore how this will affect the future of military conflicts and the downstream consequences for democracy. 


Conceptions of Equity in Education

Thursday, November 7 at 6 p.m., BEL 180 

Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin Madison Harry Brighouse, Ph.D., will give a lecture called “Conceptions of Equity in Education.” 

Dr. Brighouse asks, “What do people mean when they say they are in favor of equity in education?” This lecturer will explore various plausible ways of understanding equity, demonstrate that different organizations have different and incompatible understandings of equity, and show why understanding the different ways we conceive of equity matters for decision-making.   


For more information about the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program and Lecture Series, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/philosophy-politics-and-economics