Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences / Edition 1

by Jon Elster

Overview

This book is intended as an introductory survey of the philosophy of the social sciences. It is essentially a work of exposition that offers a tool box of mechanisms—nuts and bolts, cogs and wheels—that can be used to explain complex social phenomena. Within a brief compass, Jon Elster covers a vast range of topics. His point of departure is the conflict we all face between our desires and our opportunities. How can rational choice theory help us understand our motivation and behavior? More significantly, what happens when the theory breaks down but we still cleave to a belief in the power of the rational? Elster describes the fascinating range of forms of irrationality—wishful thinking, the phenomenon of sour grapes, discounting the future in non-cooperative behavior. He shows how these issues bear directly on our lives in such concrete situations as wage bargaining, economic cartels, political strikes, voting in elections, and court decisions involving child custody.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521376068
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/28/1989
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	5.39(w) x 8.43(h) x 0.59(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I. Introduction: 1. Mechanisms; Part II. Human Action: 2. Desires and opportunities; 3. Rational choice; 4. When rationality fails; 5. Myopia and foresight; 6. Selfishness and altruism; 7. Emotions; 8. Natural and social selection; 9. Reinforcement; Part III. Interaction: 10. Unintended consequences; 11. Equilibrium; 12. Social norms; 13. Collective action; 14. Bargaining; 15. Social institutions; 16. Social change; Bibliographical essay; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Elster's book is a success. It is lively, modest, thoughtful, and laced with the sort of vivid images that effectively make abstract ideas come alive." Economics and Philosophy

From the Publisher

A highly reductive, generally biased, but not unengaging introductory survey of the philosophy of the social sciences. Elster's (political science, U. of Chicago) point of departure is the conflict we all face between our desires and our opportunities. How can rational choice theory help us understand our motivation and behavior? More significantly, what happens when the theory breaks down but we still cleave to a belief in the power of the rational? Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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