The theory of rational decisions and social sciences

• Authors: Meszaros J.
• Languages of publication: HU

Abstracts

EN

In social sciences action theories and the definitions of actions play a central role. Largely simplifying in the later discussion, it is only important to us that the application area of the theory of rational choice is a subset of instrumentally rational action. In our opinion the theory of rational choice is only applicable to the other types of action in an unnatural way and with very strong transpositions. Although we can state that this filed of application is a very narrow segment of human action, the current scientific explanations mainly concern this narrow segment (at least according to most followers of the theory). We would like to underline that the most important property of this theory is that it enables the use of mathematical methods and this way the micro-level foundation of certain social sciences. It is enough to refer here to the triumphal march of economics or the very successful - but largely criticised - application of the theory in sociology.

Keywords

EN

RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY; SOCIAL ACTION

Discipline

• LAW_&_ADMINISTRATION: LAW & ADMINISTRATION

• Publisher: Department of Economics and Law, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Tarsadalomkutatas (Social Science Research)
• Year: 2004
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 427-451
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Meszaros J.

• J. Meszaros, no address given, contact the journal editor

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

07HUAAAA02775667