| Author: | Boudon, R. |
| Title: | Limitations of rational choice theory |
| Journal: | American Journal of Sociology
1998 : NOV, VOL. 104:3, p. 817-828 |
| Index terms: | SOCIOLOGY CHOICE THEORY RATIONALITY |
| Language: | eng |
| Abstract: | The appeal of rational choice theory (RTC) has been well explained by James Coleman (1986): rational choice theory has "a unique attractiveness" as a basis for theory because it is such a complete conception of action "that we need ask no more questions about it." Hollis (1977) has expressed the same idea in other words: "rational action is its own explanation" (quoted by Goldthorpe 1996). It is true that, once we have explained that subject X has done Y rather than Y' because Y was more advantageous, we need to know nothing more. |
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