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In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined. However, the author of this study argues that rationality is context-dependent, and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' political power. He uses a real-world Danish project to illustrate this theory.
There are many different forms of rationality. In current economic discourse the main focus is on instrumental rationality and optimizing, while organization scholars, behavioural economists and policy scientists focus more on bounded rationality and satisficing. The interplay with value rationality or expressive rationality is mainly discussed in philosophy and sociology, but never in an empirical way. This book shows that not one, but three different forms of rationality (subjective, social and instrumental) determine the final outcomes of strategic decisions executed by major organizations. Based on an argumentation analysis of six high-profile public debates, this book adds nuance to the concept of bounded rationality. The chapters show how it is socially constructed, and thus dependent on shared beliefs or knowledge, institutional context and personal interests. Three double case studies investigating the three rationalities illustrate how decision makers and stakeholders discuss the appropriateness of these rationalities for making decisions in different practice contexts. The first touches more on personal concerns, like wearing a niqab or looking at obscene art exposed in a public environment; the second investigates debates on improving the rights and position of specific minorities; and the third is based on the agreement on instrumental reasons for two kinds of investments, but the cost arguments are regarded less relevant when social norms or personal interests are violated. The Social Construction of Rationality is for those who study political economy, economic psychology and public policy, as well as economic theory and philosophy.
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, Utrecht University (School of Governance), course: Implementation between plan and practice, language: English, abstract: This review is on a book on planning with the background not in social sciences but in urban planning and geosciences, it therefore is categorized as a major contribution to planning theory rather than to political theory(see Peattie 2001:252). But sure enough, it would not be object of this analysis if its relevance and tenor were not relevant for policy practitioners. And not only them, since the various contents are also of interest to students and academic personnel of administration and politics, anthropology and sociology and constitute furthermore a meaningful laboratory-like supplement to political philosophy courses. The book itself creates new possibilities for an inspired dialogue between researchers and practitioners. Flyvbjerg sets out to show how power creates its own reality, uses rationality to rationalize its decisions, and strategically switches between political and expert discourses as it needs to in order to get what it wants using the Aalborg Project as a metaphor of comprehensive planning. This scientific book review will not only evolve around the pure contents, sense making and theoretical conceptualization of Flyvbjerg’s Rationality and Power, but will include to implicate input and attempt a comparison with Pressman & Wildavsky’s Implementation and writings by Buchanan & Boddy as well as Siebers.
A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 'Punchy, funny and invigorating ... Pinker is the high priest of rationalism' Sunday Times 'If you've ever considered taking drugs to make yourself smarter, read Rationality instead. It's cheaper, more entertaining, and more effective' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding - and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures and conspiracy theorizing? In Rationality, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species - cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book - until now. Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, Rationality will enlighten, inspire and empower. 'A terrific book, much-needed for our time' Peter Singer
The author, an anthropologist and novelist, proposes a theory of power and authority with "power" defined as state control over economic resources and "authority" as mere demonstrations of ability to punish. He sees "liberality" of authority over matters of conduct as paradoxically increasing when true state power is secure. He applies the theory to developments in US society over the last 20 years, paying special attention to capital punishment and control of sexual behavior. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
New York Post Best Book of 2016 We often think of our capacity to experience the suffering of others as the ultimate source of goodness. Many of our wisest policy-makers, activists, scientists, and philosophers agree that the only problem with empathy is that we don’t have enough of it. Nothing could be farther from the truth, argues Yale researcher Paul Bloom. In AGAINST EMPATHY, Bloom reveals empathy to be one of the leading motivators of inequality and immorality in society. Far from helping us to improve the lives of others, empathy is a capricious and irrational emotion that appeals to our narrow prejudices. It muddles our judgment and, ironically, often leads to cruelty. We are at our best when we are smart enough not to rely on it, but to draw instead upon a more distanced compassion. Basing his argument on groundbreaking scientific findings, Bloom makes the case that some of the worst decisions made by individuals and nations—who to give money to, when to go to war, how to respond to climate change, and who to imprison—are too often motivated by honest, yet misplaced, emotions. With precision and wit, he demonstrates how empathy distorts our judgment in every aspect of our lives, from philanthropy and charity to the justice system; from medical care and education to parenting and marriage. Without empathy, Bloom insists, our decisions would be clearer, fairer, and—yes—ultimately more moral. Brilliantly argued, urgent and humane, AGAINST EMPATHY shows us that, when it comes to both major policy decisions and the choices we make in our everyday lives, limiting our impulse toward empathy is often the most compassionate choice we can make.
This book presents an analysis of organizational wisdom via an embedded single case study of a group's attempt to develop and spread a medical innovation within a Canadian healthcare authority. By offering a unique insight into how values, rationality, and power interact in a real social setting, the book explores how they create positive change.
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, Utrecht University (School of Governance), course: Implementation between plan and practice, language: English, abstract: This review is on a book on planning with the background not in social sciences but in urban planning and geosciences, it therefore is categorized as a major contribution to planning theory rather than to political theory(see Peattie 2001:252). But sure enough, it would not be object of this analysis if its relevance and tenor were not relevant for policy practitioners. And not only them, since the various contents are also of interest to students and academic personnel of administration and politics, anthropology and sociology and constitute furthermore a meaningful laboratory-like supplement to political philosophy courses. The book itself creates new possibilities for an inspired dialogue between researchers and practitioners. Flyvbjerg sets out to show how power creates its own reality, uses rationality to rationalize its decisions, and strategically switches between political and expert discourses as it needs to in order to get what it wants using the Aalborg Project as a metaphor of comprehensive planning. This scientific book review will not only evolve around the pure contents, sense making and theoretical conceptualization of Flyvbjerg’s Rationality and Power, but will include to implicate input and attempt a comparison with Pressman & Wildavsky’s Implementation and writings by Buchanan & Boddy as well as Siebers.