Cass Sunstein

Cass Sunstein Robert ( born September 21, 1954) is an American professor of law at Harvard University. His practice focuses on constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, as well as a behavioral economic analysis of law.

Life

Sunstein, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 from Harvard College. In 1978 he finished the J. D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he edited the Harvard Civil Rights -Civil Liberties Law Review. After that, he was employed as a clerk at the Justice Benjamin Kaplan at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (1978-1979) and Thurgood Marshall of the Supreme Court ( 1979-1980 ). 1980-1981 he worked as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Subsequently, he taught more than 20 years at the University of Chicago, at both the Law School and at the Department of Political Science. In 2008 he went to Harvard Law School, where he was director of a research project on risk regulation.

From 2009 to 2012, he headed the White House, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, an agency of the Office of Management and Budget.

Work

Sunstein is considered the most productive and most cited jurisprudential author of the United States. He is best known for theses on various topics, which are often based on behavioral economic analysis of irrational behavior. So he published on risk perception and the precautionary principle, whereby he takes the position that currently publicly discussed the dangers of population are systematically overestimated. Together with Richard Thaler, he worked out a theory of libertarian paternalism. It is argued that individuals should indeed free to decide on his future, but that the framework should be enforced by the state so that irrational decisions be avoided.

"Conspiracy theories" and infiltration by the government

Sunstein co-wrote a scientific article from 2008 entitled " Conspiracy Theories " ( conspiracy ), together with Adrian Vermeule. This work is about the risks and potential responses of the government on false conspiracy theories that would arise from cascades of incorrect information within groups and ultimately could lead to violence. The authors suggest that the existence of both domestic and foreign conspiracy theories is not a trivial matter and real risks for the anti-terrorism policy of the government meant what it was always accurate. The authors further write the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups, including inter alia suggest that " government agents" ( government officials or agents ) might enter chat rooms, social networks, or even real (not virtual ) groups to try the spread of conspiracy theories to undermine by introducing doubts about their factual premises, causal logic or implications for political action. The authors call multiple groups, who argue that the government was involved in the attacks of September 11, " extremist groups" ( extremist groups ). You propose to implement more than one answer, such as a prohibition of conspiracy or a form of tax on it.

Sunstein and Vermeule also analyze the possibility to recruit " nongovernmental Officials " (non- government officials). They suggest that the government could supply these independent experts with information and lead them from behind the curtains to action. However, they do warn that to close links to the government these people would have a negative impact if they were known. The authors consider this practice has the advantage that credible, independent experts, the refutation would offer instead of the government officials themselves There would, however, a loss of control by the gain in credibility.

Sunstein was asked at a public meeting, if he still represent propagated in his Article. He replied: "I have written dog reds of articles, and I remember some and not others That one I do not remember very well I hope I can say did But whatever what Said did in article, my role in government is to. .. oversee federal rulemaking in a way did is wholly disconnected from the vast Majority of my academic writing, including that. " ( "I have written hundreds of articles, I can remember some, to others not. On these I do not remember very well. I hope that I can say. But what is even more in this article, my role in the government, federal regulations to monitor in a way that is totally without connection to most of my academic works, and also this. " )

Writings

• Laws of fear. Beyond the precautionary principle. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt 2007 ( Original title:. Laws of Fear Beyond the Precautionary Principle, translated by Robin Celikates and Eve Angel ), ISBN 978-3-518-58479-8 (reviews: Jürgen Kaube: concerns with side effects. In: Germany Kultur ( Hrsg.): radio features. criticism 3 May 2007).
• Infotopia. How many minds produce knowledge. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt 2009 ( Original title: How Many Minds Produce Knowledge Infotopia, translated by Robin Celikates and Eve Angel. ), ISBN 978-3-518-58521-4 (reviews: Rainer Kuhlen: Cass R. Sunstein: Infotopia In: . Achim Eschbach, Vinzenz Hediger and Horst Pöttker (ed.): Responses: communication: media February 12, 2010 - Kolja Mensing. legitimation through smart process In: Germany Kultur (ed.): radio features: criticism 14 May 2009). ..
• Richard Thaler: Nudge. Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness, revised edition, Penguin, New York and London 2009, ISBN 0-14-104001-7 German: Nudge. How abut wise decisions. Ullsteinhaus, Berlin 2011 ( translated by Christoph Bausum ), ISBN 978-3-548-37366-9.