Towards A Definition of “Partial Universalism“: The Objection of John Ferejohn and Debra Satz to the Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37075/YB.2022.2.08

Keywords:

Rational choice theory, Partial universalism
A10, Y80

Abstract

The paper compares and tries to find a common ground between two camps, proposing different interpretations on the notion of “partial universalism” as opposed to unlimited universalism in rational choice theory. The explanation preferring different theoretical approaches in a complex environment of blurred boundaries is juxtaposed with the explanation of a two-level hypothesis: rational and intentional, where the “weak” additional independent hypothesis is also tested for rationality. The need for a synthesis in the first case is compared to the need of a situational/context dependent causal mechanism, avoiding circular causality. The pragmatic common ground is the improvement of rational choice methodology.

References

Davidson, Donald (2001). Essays on Actions and Events. Oxford: Clarendon Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/0199246270.001.0001

Downs, A. (1991). Social Values and Democracy. The Economic Approach to Politics: A Critical Reassessment of the Theory of Rational Action (Ed. Monroe, K.), pp. 143-170.

Elster, J. (1986). Introduction. Constitutionalism and Democracy, 1-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139173629.001

Downs, Anthony (1957). An Economic Theory of Democracy. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN: 978-0-06-041750-5

Ferejohn, John & Satz, Debra (1995). Unification, universalism, and rational choice theory. Critical Review, 9, 71-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08913819508443372

Goodin, R & Klingemann, H.-D. (1998). Political Science: The Discipline. A New Handbook of Political Science, pp. 1-67. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/0198294719.003.0001

Green, D. & Shapiro, I. (1994). The Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory: A Critique of Applications in Political Science. Yale University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/2077237

Green, Donald P. & Shapiro, Ian (1995). Pathologies revisited: Reflections on our critics. Critical Review, 9, 235-276. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08913819508443382

Kuhn, Thomas S. & Hawkins, David (1963). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. American Journal of Physics, 31(7), 554-555. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1969660

Lakatos, Imre 1922-1974 & Musgrave, Alan 1940- (1970). Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge. Cambridge University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139171434

Downloads

Published

2022-12-19

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Dobreva, H. (2022). Towards A Definition of “Partial Universalism“: The Objection of John Ferejohn and Debra Satz to the Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory. Yearbook of UNWE, 2, 95-101. https://doi.org/10.37075/YB.2022.2.08