On Contextually Embedded Choices

Starting from Amartya Sen’s works on rational behaviour, in this essay a contextually-embedded choice theory is presented. Using concepts and tools from poset mathematics, we show how to inject in rational choice theory cultural and social e¤ects. Speci…cally, we de…ne some choice super-structures seen as choice sets’ transformations imposed by accepted external consistency of choice requirements. As we will argue, these applications can be of some help in explaining preference changes within di¤erent contexts fo choice. Hence, using the same analytical framework, some well-known results about maximizing and optimizing behaviour may be con…rmed as well as some insights on intransitive choices phase out. 1To contact the author: Department of Economics, 2 Piazza Scaravilli, 40126, Bologna, Italy. Tel:++390512098662; Fax: ++390512098040; mail: [email protected]