Dr. David Wiens

Biography

David Wiens is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego. He holds a PhD in Philosophy and an MA in Political Science from the University of Michigan. His research interests lie at the intersection of political philosophy, social science, political economy, and international organization. Wiens's primary research utilizes resources from choice theory to model the core features of the arguments that theorists provide to justify normative political principles. This model yields insights into the possibilities of sound normative evaluations of political institutions and how feasibility considerations can constrain normative judgments. His work encourages an approach to normative political theory focused on analyzing and overcoming institutional failures rather than the conventional practice of assessing institutional ideals. In addition to these interests, he is keen on exploring the nature and value of justice through formal models of collective choice, social bargaining, and institutional development. Before joining UCSD, Wiens was a Research Fellow at the School of Philosophy at the Australian National University. He completed his PhD in 2011.

Research Interests

Experience