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The Nature and Scope of Rational-Choice Explanation

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Science in Reflection

Part of the book series: Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science ((BSPS,volume 110))

Abstract

How do rational-choice explanations explain? What are their limits and limitations? I want to discuss these questions in three steps. In Section I the topic is the more general category of intentional explanation of behavior. Section II adds the specifications needed to generate rational-choice explanation. Section III considers more closely the power of rational-choice theory to yield unique deductions. In particular, this concerns the possible nonunicity and even nonexistence of optimal choice.

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References

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Edna Ullmann-Margalit

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© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Elster, J. (1988). The Nature and Scope of Rational-Choice Explanation. In: Ullmann-Margalit, E. (eds) Science in Reflection. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 110. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2957-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2957-9_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-277-2713-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2957-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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