180039 SE Practical Rationality (2023S)

This course focuses philosophically on the question of rational choice. After (1) an introduction and (2) a first overview over rational choice (J. Elster, The Nature and Scope of Rational Choice Explanations) we discuss (3) the assumption that all actions have reasons (R. Hursthouse, Arational Action), (4) the causal theory of action (Harry Frankfurt, The Problem of Action) and (5) the status of reasons as internal to the agent’s motivational set (B. Williams, Internal and External Reasons). We then turn to debates that are more specific to the philosophy of economics, such as (6, 7) the role of commitment in action (A. Sen, Rational Fools; B. Verbeek, Counter-Preferential Choice), (8) the (alleged) irrationality of frames (Kahnemann/Tversky), (9) The Problem of Cooperation (E. Anderson), (10) Team Thinking (R. Sugden), and (11) Gender and Rationality (K. Jones). This is followed by (12) a concluding discussion. (Please mind that this program is provisional; the final program will be announced in the first meeting.)