New technologies and challenges have brought fresh attention to the topic of governance - the rules, norms, and structures that guide or constrain behavior by both humans and nonhumans. We will consider "governance" in its broadest sense - not limited to formal institutions but including informal practices, cultural norms, and power dynamics that influence action and decision-making. While it can be informed by experiences and ideas about how governance works, governance design focuses distinctly on processes by which governance is deliberately created, whether from scratch or within an established order. It includes the consideration of questions like By and for whom?, Within what scope and scale?, and How and for what purposes? - which are often at least partially decided by the time rules are written or a constitution gets drafted. In this advanced small seminar, we will read and discuss writings -- both historical and contemporary -- that bear on issues, goals, and methods for the design of governance. We will consider theories and evidence from different disciplines and perspectives, while developing and exploring a framework for understanding how governance can and does come about. We will look at how governance is created in real, virtual, and imaginary worlds. Prerequisites: Completion of an introductory course in philosophy, a course in empirical social or cognitive science, and a course in formal methods.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
New technologies and challenges have brought fresh attention to the topic of governance - the rules, norms, and structures that guide or constrain behavior by both humans and nonhumans. We will consider "governance" in its broadest sense - not limited to formal institutions but including informal practices, cultural norms, and power dynamics that influence action and decision-making. While it can be informed by experiences and ideas about how governance works, governance design focuses distinctly on processes by which governance is deliberately created, whether from scratch or within an established order. It includes the consideration of questions like By and for whom?, Within what scope and scale?, and How and for what purposes? - which are often at least partially decided by the time rules are written or a constitution gets drafted. In this advanced small seminar, we will read and discuss writings -- both historical and contemporary -- that bear on issues, goals, and methods for the design of governance. We will consider theories and evidence from different disciplines and perspectives, while developing and exploring a framework for understanding how governance can and does come about. We will look at how governance is created in real, virtual, and imaginary worlds. Prerequisites: Completion of an introductory course in philosophy, a course in empirical social or cognitive science, and a course in formal methods.
Offered in Spring 2027 at Stanford University.