1932

Abstract

Skepticism toward sociology has grown over recent years. The attention granted to rational choice theory (RCT) is, to a large extent, a reaction against this situation. Without doubt, RCT is a productive instrument, but it fails signally in explaining positive nontrivial beliefs as well as normative nonconsequential beliefs. RCT's failures are due to its move to use too narrow a definition of rationality. A model can be developed that combines the advantages of the RCT (mainly providing self-sufficient explanations), without falling victim to its shortcomings. This model is implicitly used in classical and modern sociological works that are considered to be illuminating and valid.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.soc.29.010202.100213
2003-08-01
2024-03-29
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.soc.29.010202.100213
Loading
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev.soc.29.010202.100213
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Review Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error