Sensible Decisions: Issues of Rational Decision in Personal Choice and Public PolicyRowman & Littlefield, 2003 - 147 pages In personal and public affairs alike we constantly confront the need for deciding among available alternatives. Philosophers have long been preoccupied with the lines of thought and principles of deliberation in resolving such choices rationally. Sensible Decisions synthesizes Nicholas Rescher's contribution to this discussion over the years. This book is concerned with the procedural constraints that rationality imposes on our choices in the social and technological reality in which we operate. Rescher's prime aim is to illuminate some of the theoretical complications and perplexities that characterize rational procedure in matters of decision making at the public policy level. |
Contents
Homo Optans On the Human Condition and the Burden of Choice | 3 |
Why Be Rational? On the Rationale of Rationality | 9 |
Is Reasoning about Values Viciously Circular? | 25 |
Deliberative Conservatism | 33 |
Predictive Incapacity and Rational Decision | 39 |
Dismissing Extremely Remote Possibilities | 49 |
Nomic Hierarchies and Problems of Relativism | 63 |
PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES | 79 |
Is Consensus Required for a Rational Social Order? | 99 |
Risking Democracy Some Reflections on Contemporary Problems of Political Decision | 113 |
Collective Responsibility | 125 |
Conclusion | 139 |
| 141 | |
| 145 | |
About the Author | |
Technology Complexity and Social Decision | 81 |
Common terms and phrases
acceptable accordingly achieve acquiescence action actually affairs agreement alternative appropriate argumentation arise causal choice circularity circumstances clearly cogent cognitive rationality complex concretization quandary confess conflict confront consensus Conservatism context coordination course criteriology decision decision problems decision theory deliberations desiderata dissensus domain enterprise evaluative expected value fact gridlock group responsibility hierarchy human ideal implementing individuals inherent intentions involved issue justification of rationality Kurt Baier matter means modes moral moral enterprise moral responsibility nature Newcomb's problem Nicholas Rescher norms Northcote Parkinson objective operation opportunity cost optimal overall particular Paul Slovic pivotal plausible political position possible practical pragmatic prediction principles Prisoner's Dilemma probability problem procedure proceed productive prospect public policy question rational agents rational thing realization reason regard resolution result risk rules sensible simply situation sort specific status quo substantial sure technological progress tion tional tive University validation values variability
Popular passages
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