Choice, Rationality and Social Theory - Couverture rigide

Hindess, Barry

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0043013066 ISBN 13 : 9780043013069

Editeur : Routledge, 1988

Synopsis

This book provides a challenge to the claims of rational choice analysis: the theory that life is principally explicable as the outcome of rational self-interest on the part of individual actors intent on maximizing the satisfaction of their own preferences. Through analysis of the concepts of the actor and of rationality, Barry Hindess argues that the theory is seriously deficient and makes highly questionable assumptions which close off major areas of intellectual enquiry. It ignores the existence of actors other than human individuals; the reality of social influences; and the deliberative process of decision making. It is aimed at students of social theory and sociology.

A propos du livre

Présentation de l'éditeur

Choice, Rationality and Social Theory is a powerful rebuttal of the remarkably influential theories underlying 'rational choice analysis'. Rational choice analysis maintains that social life is principally to be explained as the outcome of rational choices on the part of individual actors. Adherents of this view include not only philosophers, political scientists and sociologists, but also prominent politicians in Western governments – notably of the United Kingdom and the United States. Rational choice analysis is said to be rigorous, capable of great technical sophistication, and able to generate powerful explanations on the basis of a few, relatively simple theoretical assumptions.

Barry Hindess argues that the theory is seriously deficient, first, because there are important actors in the modern world other than human individuals, and second, because it says nothing about those processes of deliberation that play an important part in actors' decisions. The use of highly questionable assumptions about actors and their rationality has the effect of closing off important areas of intellectual inquiry and ignoring the reality of certain forms of thought and the social conditions on which they depend. These points are established through detailed examination of the concepts of the actor and of rationality – providing an overall argument that constitutes a serious challenge to any adherent of rational choice analysis.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Routledge
• Date d'édition: 1988
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0043013066
• ISBN 13: 9780043013069
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 120
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible