‘Scepticism about desert has been common among theorists of justice, both those who favour a social contract account and those, like Hayek, who have a different view. Yet, although the concept of desert seldom figures in contemporary contract theories of justice, it is an element in the common sense morality of modern democracies. Can we reconcile common sense thinking and social contract theory in respect of the principle of desert?’

Date: 22nd January 2014, 4.00-7.00pm

Location: UCL Faculty of Laws, Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens, London WC1H 0EG

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

‘In this talk, Professor Lessig introduces the idea of “institutional corruption,” and uses it to understand pathologies in important public institutions, especially the United States Congress.’

Date: 13th March 2014, 6.00pm

Location: Cruciform Lecture Theatre 1, UCL Cruciform Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

‘The notions of the reasonable and of the reasonable person are often attacked as decidedly not helpful to criminal law and criminal law theory (and often the claim is made with respect not just to criminal law, but law in general). I try to show that the reasonable has a great deal more going for it, for purposes of criminal law, than is often thought. Elsewhere I try to understand what the basis for the misgivings is. In this paper, I take a step back from the issues in law and criminal law theory and examine the everyday notion of reasonableness, and more specifically to reasonableness understood as a quality we attribute to (some but not all) persons. By giving it a close look we’ll be in a better position to reflect on the suitability (or lack thereof) of reasonableness for purposes to which it is put to use in the criminal law, e.g., the heat of passion defense and (the culpability level of) negligence.’

Date: 5th March 2014, 4.00-7.00pm

Location: UCL Faculty of Laws, Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens, London WC1H 0EG

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.

‘Over recent years, CEO pay in public companies has increased at a stratospheric rate, while the real incomes of many private sector workers have either stagnated or fallen. Consequently, the issue of CEO/worker pay equity has become a politically live issue, both in the UK and internationally. Against this background, the seminar will explore the economic case for moderating intra-firm pay disparities. It will highlight the importance of manifestly fair organisational pay policies in sustaining the significant levels of trust and personal commitment that are necessary for the maintenance of productive employment relations. It will also demonstrate the broader function of pay equity in sustaining the corporate sector’s collective and publicly delegated license to determine prevailing private sector income distributions, outside of direct state control. Finally, the seminar will contend with the orthodox counter-argument that reduced income inequality is liable to undermine incentives for productive work practices, by showing that – contrary to popular belief – a decreased emphasis on pecuniary incentives will likely be conducive to greater levels of work effort on the part of both senior executives and ‘rank-and-file’ workers. On this basis, the claim will be advanced that achieving meaningful pay equity is important today not just as a means of achieving social justice, but also as an essential precondition for securing the continuing existence of private enterprise in its traditionally understood form.’

Date: 12th February 2014, 6.00pm

Location: UCL Faculty of Laws, Bentham House, Endsleigh Gardens, London WC1H 0EG

Charge: Free, registration required

More information can be found here.