Table of contents for Ulysses unbound : studies in rationality, precommitment, and constraints / Jon Elster.

Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments        page ix

I Ulysses Revisited: How and Why People Bind Themselves     1
I.1       Introduction: Constraint Theory                 1   
I.2       Passion as a Reason for Self-Binding
I.3       Time-Inconsistency and Discounting      24
I.4       Time-Inconsistency and Strategic Behavior    34
I.5       Passion as a Device for Self-Binding    45
I.6       Variations on a Russian Nobleman   57
I.7       Addiction and Precommitment   63
I.8       Obstacles, Objections, and Alternatives      77

II Ulysses Unbound: Constitutions as Constraints  88
II.1      Introduction   88
II.2      Disanalogies with Individual Precommitment   92
II.3      The Nature and Structure of Constitutions    96
II.4      Constraints on Constitution-Making      105
II.5      Two Levels of Constitutional Precommitment   115
II.6      Self-Binding in Athenian Politics  118
II.7      Interest and Passion in Philadelphia and Paris    129
II.8      Time-Inconsistency, Discounting, and Delays  141
II.9      Omnipotence, Strategic Behavior, and Separation 146
                 of Powers
II.10 Efficiency         154
II.11 Obstacles and Objections          156
II.12 Ulysses Unbound         167

III Less Is More: Creativity and Constraints in the Arts         175
III.1          Introduction   175
III.2          Daydreaming: Creativity Without Constraints  181
III.3          Constraints and Conventions in the Arts 190
III.4          Constraints, Value, and Creativity 200
III.5          Originality, Authenticity, and Creativity    221
III.6          The Hays Code  227
III.7          Lucien Leuwen as an Empty Set 234
III.8          Randomization in the Arts     240
III.9          Creativity and Constraints in jazz 246
               III.10          Obstacles and Objections     263

Coda 270
References     283
Index     301

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