Filozofija i drustvo 2014 Volume 25, Issue 3, Pages: 313-322
https://doi.org/10.2298/FID1403313R
Full text ( 169 KB)
Commitment-based action: Rational choice theory and contrapreferential choice
Radovanović Bojana (Institut ekonomskih nauka, Beograd)
This paper focuses on Sen’s concept of contrapreferential choice. Sen has
developed this concept in order to overcome weaknesses of the rational choice
theory. According to rational choice theory a decision-maker can be always
seen as someone who maximises utility, and each choice he makes as the one
that brings to him the highest level of personal wellbeing. Sen argues that
in some situations we chose alternatives that bring us lower level of
wellbeing than we could achieve if we had chosen some other alternative
available to us. This happens when we base our decisions on moral principles,
when we act out of duty. Sen calls such action a commitment-based action.
When we act out of commitment we actually neglect our preferences and thus we
make a contrapreferential choice, as Sen argues. This paper shows that,
contrary to Sen, a commitment-based action can be explained within the
framework of rational choice theory. However, when each choice we make can be
explained within the framework of rational choice theory, when in everything
we do maximisation principle can be loaded, then the variety of our motives
and traits is lost, and the explanatory power of the rational choice theory
is questionable.
Keywords: rational choice theory, commitment-based action, contrapreferential choice
Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 47009:
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EU) i br. 179015: Izazovi i perspektive strukturnih promena u Srbiji:
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