Leah Downey
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Leah Downey is a PhD student in Government at Harvard University specialising in political theory. Originally from Asheville, North Carolina, she holds BAs in mathematics and economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MSc in economics and philosophy from the London School of Economics. Her research centres on economic and political approaches to decision making. Leah is interested in exploring the historical iterations of the distinction between decision making by algorithmic rule (discovery) and human choice. The 19th century idea of mathematical psychics is a focal point of particular importance in this endeavour. Her dissertation project attempts to address the question--what makes for a good collective decision--in the light of philosophical vagueness, 'algorithmic creep' and the value of collective self-government.
Leah will be visiting the UK over the summer to conduct archival research related to the intellectual relationship between F.Y. Edgeworth, W.S Jevons, and Henry Sidgwick.