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Interviews | November 19, 2009

Dave: IMG Finding John Irving: The Powells.com Interview

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johnirving[Editor's note: The following is a reprint of our 2005 interview with John Irving, whose new novel, Last Night in Twisted River, has just come out... Continue »
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More copies of this ISBN:

Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences

by Jon Elster

Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences Cover

ISBN13: 9780521376068
ISBN10: 0521376068
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

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.

Synopsis:

Intended as an introduction to the philosophy of the social sciences, this book is essentially a work of exposition which offers a range of mechanisms that can be used to explain complex social phenomena. Its point of departure is the conflict we all face between our desires and our opportunities.
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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.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780521376068
Author:
Elster, Jon
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Location:
Cambridge ;
Subject:
General
Subject:
Interpersonal Relations
Subject:
Methodology
Subject:
Sociology, anthropology and archaeology
Subject:
Social sciences
Subject:
Social interaction
Subject:
Social sciences -- Methodology.
Subject:
Interacciâon social
Subject:
General Philosophy
Edition Description:
Includes bibliographical references p. 173-182
Series Volume:
9248
Publication Date:
July 1989
Binding:
Paperback
Grade Level:
Professional and scholarly
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
184
Dimensions:
8.42x5.39x.58 in. .50 lbs.
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