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Is risk aversion irrational? Examining the “fallacy” of large numbers
Stockholm University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Philosophy.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8382-1802
2020 (English)In: Synthese, ISSN 0039-7857, E-ISSN 1573-0964, Vol. 197, no 10, p. 4425-4437Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

A moderately risk averse person may turn down a 50/50 gamble that either results in her winning $200 or losing $100. Such behaviour seems rational if, for instance, the pain of losing $100 is felt more strongly than the joy of winning $200. The aim of this paper is to examine an influential argument that some have interpreted as showing that such moderate risk aversion is irrational. After presenting an axiomatic argument that I take to be the strongest case for the claim that moderate risk aversion is irrational, I show that it essentially depends on an assumption that those who think that risk aversion can be rational should be skeptical of. Hence, I conclude that risk aversion need not be irrational.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. Vol. 197, no 10, p. 4425-4437
National Category
Philosophy
Research subject
Philosophy
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URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-233663DOI: 10.1007/s11229-018-01929-5ISI: 000569093600014Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85053757207OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-233663DiVA, id: diva2:1900054
Available from: 2024-09-22 Created: 2024-09-22 Last updated: 2024-09-24Bibliographically approved

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Stefánsson, H. Orri

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