It seems easy to accept that rationality involves many features that cannot be summarized in terms of some straightforward formula, such as binary consistency.  However, this recognition does not immediately lead to alternative characterizations that might be regarded as satisfactory, even though the inadequacies of the traditional assumptions of rational behavior standard used in economic theo...

It seems easy to accept that rationality involves many features that cannot be summarized in terms of some straightforward formula, such as binary consistency.  However, this recognition does not immediately lead to alternative characterizations that might be regarded as satisfactory, even though the inadequacies of the traditional assumptions of rational behavior standard used in economic theo...

economists have heralded the formulation of the expected utility theorem as a universal method of choice under uncertainty. in their seminal paper, stigler and becker (stigler & becker, 1977) declared that “human behavior can be explained by a generalized calculus of utility-maximizing behavior” (p.76). the universality of the rational choice theory has been widely criticized by psychologists, ...

Economists have heralded the formulation of the expected utility theorem as a universal method of choice under uncertainty. In their seminal paper, Stigler and Becker (Stigler & Becker, 1977) declared that “human behavior can be explained by a generalized calculus of utility-maximizing behavior” (p.76). The universality of the rational choice theory has been widely criticized by psychologists, ...

contemporary sociology in many ways still depends on the classical theories. the emergence of new phenomena and their increasing importance in the modern society requires new explanations. the qualitative and quantitative growth of sciences, especially humanities, in the last hundred years has made various scientific disciplines dependent on each other. this is what makes the work of contempora...

Although rational choice theory has made considerable advances in other social sciences, its progress in sociology has been limited. Some sociologists’ reservations about rational choice arise from a misunderstanding of the theory. The first part of this essay therefore introduces rational choice as a general theoretical perspective, or family of theories, which explains social outcomes by cons...