Discourse on rationality : rational choice and critical theory
The thesis contrasts two hostile and divergent intellectual paradigms in social sciences: rational choice and critical theory. Both rational choice and critical theory offer contrasting perspectives on the structures of social interaction. However, both critical theory and rational choice theory share overlapping concerns ie., both are preoccupied with determining what rational can mean in the realm of social and political interaction. In the case of rational choice paradigm, instrumental reason forms the cornerstone of the theoretical edifice. Ever since the publication of Jurgen Habermas' The lhemy qf Communicative Action Vol. / (1984) and Vol. II (1986) instrumental reason has come under severe attack. His critique anchors on a theory of communicative reason. What makes Habermas' work distinctive is that he does not regard instrumental reason as the single inevitable concomitant of modernity. Habermas sees in modernity an alternative way of conceptualising social interaction in terms of communication rather than strategy. So in a way, his work is a challenge to the defenders of modernity aiming to build a unified social science Jurgen Habermas advances the notion of communicative reason as the centerpiece
Madiraju, Santhosh Kumar
B Philosophy (General)
Discourse on rationality : rational choice and critical theory. The thesis contrasts two hostile and divergent intellectual paradigms in social sciences: rational choice and critical theory. Both rational choice and critical theory offer contrasting perspectives on the structures of social interaction. However, both critical theory and rational choice theory share overlapping concerns ie., both are preoccupied with determining what rational can mean in the realm of social and political interaction. In the case of rational choice paradigm, instrumental reason forms the cornerstone of the theoretical edifice. Ever since the publication of Jurgen Habermas' The lhemy qf Communicative Action Vol. / (1984) and Vol. II (1986) instrumental reason has come under severe attack. His critique anchors on a theory of communicative reason. What makes Habermas' work distinctive is that he does not regard instrumental reason as the single inevitable concomitant of modernity. Habermas sees in modernity an alternative way of conceptualising social interaction in terms of communication rather than strategy. So in a way, his work is a challenge to the defenders of modernity aiming to build a unified social science Jurgen Habermas advances the notion of communicative reason as the centerpiece
discourse rationality rational_choice critical_theory contrast hostile divergent intellectual paradigm social_science rational_choice critical_theory rational_choice critical_theory offer contrast perspective structure social_interaction however critical_theory rational_choice theory share overlap concern preoccupy determine rational mean realm social_political interaction case rational_choice paradigm instrumental_reason form cornerstone theoretical edifice ever_since publication habermas communicative_action person instrumental_reason come severe attack critique anchor theory communicative reason make habermas work distinctive regard instrumental_reason single inevitable concomitant modernity habermas see modernity alternative_way conceptualise social_interaction term communication rather strategy way work challenge defender modernity aim build unified social_science habermas advance notion communicative reason