Robert Sugden’s theory of team reasoning: a critical reconstruction

Abstract

This paper provides a critical reconstruction of Sugden's intellectual itinerary with respect to his theory of team reasoning, starting from the beginning of his reflection in the early 1980s to his latest contributions in 2015. My reconstruction follows both a historical and an interpretative approach to show the continuity of different lines of thought, developed in different moments, notwithstanding the changes in the aims and scope of the theory from one period to another. I divide the evolution of Sugden's team reasoning into four main stages. The first includes some works prior

Special Issue: “The Community of Advantage”

“…Of particular interest are Sugden's opening remarks where he recalls Antonio Genovesi and the civil economy as sources for his book: "It is particularly appropriate that the symposium is published in what is coming to be known as the Journal of Civil Economy." Federica Nalli's contribution (Nalli 2020) starts from the assumption that behind the principle of mutual benefit is Sugden's account of team reasoning. Her work offers a valuable contribution by reconstructing the genesis and evolution of Sugden's thought, divided into four parts, while not renouncing the critical interpretations of some crucial turning points.…”

What Mutual Assistance Is, and What It Could Be in the Contemporary World

“…However, I will not consider Sugden’s ( 2018 ) last formulation of team reasoning, nor the normative recommendations that he adopts, based on this formulation. 1 Moreover, a question in Sugden’s theory remains unanswered: when is it rational to endorse team reasoning (Nalli, 2021 )? A suggestion in this direction—what I refer to as ‘emotional team reasoning’—is given in 2002 and restated in 2018, but not further developed.…”