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Pursuing social progress: the question of orientation

Keith Hankins et al.

Economics and Philosophy2026https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266267126100698article
AJG 2ABDC A
Weight
0.50

Abstract

We examine the “problem of social change”, focusing on whether efforts should be oriented toward long-term ideals or piecemeal improvements. We analyse the trade-off between these approaches: pursuing ideals may require short-term sacrifices, while incremental changes may hinder realizing an ideal. We introduce an analytical framework for structuring thought experiments that can provide traction on these issues, and present two implementations that provide baseline insights and motivate further research. We conclude with suggestions for extending our framework in ways that can yield insights that can guide our choice of orientation.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266267126100698

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@article{keith2026,
  title        = {{Pursuing social progress: the question of orientation}},
  author       = {Keith Hankins et al.},
  journal      = {Economics and Philosophy},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266267126100698},
}

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Pursuing social progress: the question of orientation

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

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