Sensible decisions : issues of rational decision in personal choice and public policy / Nicholas Rescher.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rescher, Nicholas.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Decision making.

Political planning.

Physical Description:

ix, 147 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, [2003]

Summary:

In personal and public affairs alike we constantly confront the need for deciding among available alternatives. Sensible Decisions synthesizes Nicholas Rescher's contribution to this discussion over the years. 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

Why be rational? (on the rationale of rationality)

Is reasoning about values viciously circular?

Deliberative conservatism

Predictive incapacity and rational decision

Dismissing extremely remote possibilities

Nomic hierarchies and problems of relativism

Technology, complexity, and social decision

Is consensus required for a rational social order?

Risking democracy : (some reflections on contemporary problems of political decision)

Collective responsibiblity.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-143) and index.

ISBN:

0742514900

OCLC:

51543892