Sour Grapes aims to subvert orthodox theories of rational choice through the study of forms of irrationality. Dr Elster begins with an analysis of the notation of rationality, to provide the background and terms for the subsequent discussions, which cover irrational behaviour, irrational desires and irrational belief. These essays continue and complement the arguments of Jon Elster's earlier book, Ulysses and the Sirens. That was published to wide acclaim, and Dr Elster shows the same versatility here in drawing on philosophy, political and social theory, decision-theory, economics and psychology, as well as history and literature.
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Editorial Reviews
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'I cannot imagine anyone interested in the philosophy of the social sciences who could fail to profit from and be stimulated by this book.' Flint Schier, Philosophical Books
'Elster is an extremely impressive writer, at home in several languages and in a wide range of scholarly discourses, from philosophy, through game theory, parts of economics and psychology, to literary criticism. He writes attractively and inventively ...' Mary K. Farmer, The Economic Journal
'What makes [Elster] distinctive is a combination of philosophical acuity and detailed attention to contemporary work in history, the social sciences and cognitive psychology ... When Elster is at the top of his form the general ideas form the framework for the argument which is itself actually carried to great extent through the use of examples. This is hard to convey in a review. But it is what gives Elster's work its uniquely attractive quality. I would defy anyone to read, in particular, the second chapter of Sour Grapes without being charmed by the play of a subtle intellect in a remarkable range of materials.' Brian Barry, The London Review of Books
'Elster is an extremely impressive writer, at home in several languages and in a wide range of scholarly discourses, from philosophy, through game theory, parts of economics and psychology, to literary criticism. He writes attractively and inventively ...' Mary K. Farmer, The Economic Journal
'What makes [Elster] distinctive is a combination of philosophical acuity and detailed attention to contemporary work in history, the social sciences and cognitive psychology ... When Elster is at the top of his form the general ideas form the framework for the argument which is itself actually carried to great extent through the use of examples. This is hard to convey in a review. But it is what gives Elster's work its uniquely attractive quality. I would defy anyone to read, in particular, the second chapter of Sour Grapes without being charmed by the play of a subtle intellect in a remarkable range of materials.' Brian Barry, The London Review of Books
Book Description
These essays focus on the nature of irrationality in various forms. The author draws on philosophy, political and social theory, decision theory, economics, and psychology, as well as history and literature.
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First Sentence:
The present work is largely about irrationality. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
adaptive preference change, hammock problem, counteradaptive preferences, character planning, adaptive preference formation, post preferences, hiding hand, thin theory, internal negation, thin sense, consistency criteria, feasible set, social causality, social choice theory, dissonance reduction, collective rationality Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Paul Veyne, Industrial Revolution, Mme de Chasteller, Serge Kolm, Alexander Zinoviev, Classical Antiquity, Emily Dickinson, George Ainslie, Leslie Farber New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The present work is largely about irrationality. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
adaptive preference change, hammock problem, counteradaptive preferences, character planning, adaptive preference formation, post preferences, hiding hand, thin theory, internal negation, thin sense, consistency criteria, feasible set, social causality, social choice theory, dissonance reduction, collective rationality Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Paul Veyne, Industrial Revolution, Mme de Chasteller, Serge Kolm, Alexander Zinoviev, Classical Antiquity, Emily Dickinson, George Ainslie, Leslie Farber New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 23
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- Democracy in America (Signet Classics) by Alexis de Tocqueville on page 93, page 94, and Back Matter
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- Lucien Leuwen (Bookmasters) by Stendhal on page 72, and Back Matter
- RLE: China: Confucian China and its Modern Fate: Volume One: The Problem of Intellectual Continuity (China: History, Philosophy, Economics) by Joseph R. Levenson on page 154
- Reflections on the Revolution in France & The Rights of Man by Edmund Burke in Back Matter
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- The Practice of Workplace Participation: Management-Employee Relations at Three Participatory Firms by S. Lance Denning on page 142, page 160, and Back Matter
- Self-Deception and Morality by Mike W. Martin in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- New Labour: A Critique by Mark Bevir in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Democratic Autonomy: Public Reasoning about the Ends of Policy (Oxford Political Theory) by Henry S. Richardson in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Justice and Legitimacy in Upbringing by Matthew Clayton on page 126, and Back Matter
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