The rational choice/political culture debate and game theory
Here are two varying articles on the rational choice versus political culture debate. The article only briefly mentions game theory, but I think that game theory is an interesting theory when placed in contrast to rational choice. Instead of analyzing what will maximize and individual’s interest, game theory analyzes how people make choices based on what they expect other individuals to do. In this manner more variables are usually taken into account which can often mean disaster for some of the “intimidating mathematics” that the articles postulate rational choice theorists rely so heavily upon.
I will let you read through the articles, but I found the last comment on rational choice both intimidating and rather damning. It states that if we continue to train our political scientists in the rational choice method then “the rational choice movement may actually erode the stock of knowledge about politics that is passed on to subsequent generations.” Personally, whether a safe-answer or not, I believe that like most opposing ideas the truth lay somewhere in the middle, and that all theories serve a purpose, whilst no one theory can serve all.
What do you think?
jd said,
February 22, 2008 at 11:17 pm
I think that individuals make decisions for various reasons; some situations suit a more instrumental approach to analyzing these decisions, while other decisions can be understood more appropriately using other theories.
There are problems with rational choice; but there are also problems with any other theory in the social sciences; we should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water.