How Do Institutions Steer Events?: An Inquiry into the Limits and Possibilities of Rational Thought and Action

Wettersten, John

ISBN 10: 0754653579 / ISBN 13: 9780754653578

Published by Routledge, 2006

About this Item

Theories of explanation in the social sciences vacillate between holism and individualism. This book contends that this has been a consequence of theories of rationality which assume that rationality requires coherent theories to be shown to be true. It claims that traditional explanations place unrealistic demands on individuals and institutions. Num Pages: 316 pages. BIC Classification: HPK; JHBA; JPA. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational. Dimension: 240 x 167 x 26. Weight in Grams: 624. . 2006. 1st Edition. hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780754653578

Bibliographic Details

• Title: How Do Institutions Steer Events?: An Inquiry into the Limits and Possibilities of Rational Thought and Action
• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication Date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0754653579
• ISBN 13: 9780754653578
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Theories of explanation in the social sciences vacillate between holism and individualism. Wettersten contends that this has been a consequence of theories of rationality which assume that rationality requires coherent theories to be shown to be true. Rejecting these traditional assumptions about rationality Wettersten claims that the traditional explanations of rationality have placed unrealistic demands on both individuals and institutions. Analysing the theories of Weber and Popper, Wettersten shows that Popper made considerable progress in the theory of rationality, but ultimately stayed too close to the ideas of Hayek, he explains how this dilemma leads to difficulties in economics, anthropology, sociology, ethics and political theory, and constructs an alternative theory that rationality is critical problem-solving in institutional contexts. Wettersten contends that 'the critical consideration of theories followed by their improvement' dispenses with the need for justification and sees rationality as a social phenomena with an institutional basis. The main social advantages this view offers is that the degree of rationality individuals achieve may be increased by institutional reform without moralizing and that we can explain how institutions steer events insofar as we understand how they determine the problems which individuals seek to solve. It is argued that the central moral advantage of this view is that rationality is shown to be Spinozistic in the sense that it is natural and furthers morality and peace of mind.

About the Author

John Wettersten is the Adjunct Professor for the Philosophy of Science at the University of Mannheim, Germany.