Rationality and the Ideology of Disconnection

Rationality and the Ideology of Disconnection Series: Contemporary Political Theory Michael Taylor University of Washington pdf eBook version (not scanned). "A powerful and provocative critique of the foundations of Rational Choice theory and the economic way of thinking about the world, written by a former leading practitioner. The target is a dehumanizing ideology that cannot properly recognize that normal people have attachments and commitments to other people and to practices, projects, principles, and places, which provide them with desire-independent reasons for action, and that they are reflective creatures who think about what they are and what they should be, with ideals that can shape and structure the way they see their choices. The author’s views are brought to bear on the economic way of thinking about the natural environment and on how and when the norm of fair reciprocity motivates us to do our part in cooperative endeavors. Throughout, the argument is adorned by thought-provoking examples that keep what is at stake clearly before the reader’s mind." from the author of: Anarchy and Cooperation. London: John Wiley & Sons, 1976 Community, Anarchy and Liberty. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982 The Possibility of Cooperation (A substantially revised and expanded edition of Anarchy and Cooperation.) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987 Bio: Michael Taylor (born 1942), is a political theorist and political economist who currently teaches at the University of Washington. His research interests include rational choice theory, moral motivation and game theory. Although game theory was applied in social sciences before Taylor's work, he was the first to explicitly link rationality with collective action. He sets out a theory for a rationally motivated revolution and rational cooperation. His theory specifically states that cooperation can be achieved without the intervention of the state. Rational individuals will cooperate as it will maximise their long term utility. Taylor shows this through game theory and especially the Prisoner's Dilemma supergame. (Editor and co-author) Rationality and Revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988.