The Oxford Handbook of Rationality (Oxford Handbooks) [Hardcover]

Alfred R. Mele (Editor), Piers Rawling (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195145399 | ISBN-13: 978-0195145397 | Publication Date: January 8, 2004

Rationality has long been a central topic in philosophy, crossing standard divisions and categories. It continues to attract much attention in published research and teaching by philosophers as well as scholars in other disciplines, including economics, psychology, and law. The Oxford Handbook of Rationality is an indispensable reference to the current state of play in this vital and interdisciplinary area of study. Twenty-two newly commissioned chapters by a roster of distinguished philosophers provide an overview of the prominent views on rationality, with each author also developing a unique and distinctive argument.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Handbook provides an engaging and accessible survey of current philosophical studies of rationality, and a useful up-to-date roadmap of state-of-the-art thinking on this enduring topicThis is an authoritative sourcebook. Whereas each chapter can be read on its own and the references within each essay direct the reader to further writings in that topic area, the selection and arrangement of the topics are thoughtful and well-designed. Each author is undoubtedly among the best qualified candidates to undertake his or her commissioned chapter, and most essays are consistently of high quality."-Jing Zhu, Philosophical Psychology

About the Author

Alfred R. Mele is at Florida State University. Piers Rawling is at Florida State University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195145399
• ISBN-13: 978-0195145397
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,059,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Rationality made Boring, June 10, 2010

By 

Herbert Gintis (Northampton, MA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Oxford Handbook of Rationality (Oxford Handbooks) (Hardcover)

Rationality means many different things, and is not a field of study. Not surprisingly, a "handbook" of rationality reads more like an eclectic set of dictionary entries. There are some fine authors represented in this collection, but I found the subjects I know idiosyncratic and perfunctory, the authors managing to to make exciting topics seem boring. The subject I know less well or not at all I found bland and superficial. In no sense are these chapters reviews of the their respective fields. Rather, they are relatively narrow essays on particular topics.