Yuxin Su (UCL IOE)
Positional goods reconsidered

In modern economics, the concept of positional good is not exactly novel. Defined loosely, positional goods are goods whose absolute value to individuals depends, at least partly, on how much they have in relation to others. More recently, positional goods have increasingly been featuring in debates in philosophy of education. Some argue that the existence of positional goods should orient us towards a more egalitarian disposition that favours equal distribution of educational resources or opportunities. I will try to say something about why this position can be misguided.

Yuxin Su is a doctoral student at UCL IOE. She is primarily interested in moral decision-making in the classroom and the implications of distributive principles of justice in education. Her current project explores how prioritarianism can be applied in the process of grading. She hopes to find a way to join up her interest in anti- natalism and education one day.

Note: all sessions this term will be in hybrid form. They will take place both face to face in a room at UCL IOE and on Zoom.

For further inquiries: Yuxin Su (yuxin.su.16@ucl.ac.uk).

Please note that this seminar series is run by academics on an entirely voluntary and unpaid basis, on top of existing teaching and other work commitments. While we endeavour to make these events as inclusive and welcoming as possible, we cannot undertake any extra work regarding the presentation, dissemination or planning of the talks or make adjustments to the existing programme.