The nature and scope of rational-choice explanation
pp. 51-65
in: Edna Ullmann-Margalit (ed), Science in reflection, Berlin, Springer, 1988Abstract
How do rational-choice explanations explain? What are their limits and limitations? I want to discuss these questions in three steps. In Section I the topic is the more general category of intentional explanation of behavior. Section II adds the specifications needed to generate rational-choice explanation. Section III considers more closely the power of rational-choice theory to yield unique deductions. In particular, this concerns the possible nonunicity and even nonexistence of optimal choice.