Jon elster, one of the foremost contemporary social scientists, over the past decades, has left his mark on the development of the grand theme of human behaviour. This book is an expanded and revised edition of the authors critically acclaimed volume nuts and bolts for the social sciences. He is also a notable proponent of analytical marxism, and a critic of neoclassical economics and public choice theory, largely on behavioral and. More nuts and bolts for the social sciences jon elster cambridge, england. Philip johnsonlaird 2006 general the construction of preference. Social norms and economic theory american economic. In twentysix succinct chapters, jon elster provides an account of the nature of explanation in the social sciences.
For at least two decades, one of elsters goals has been to undermine and enrich the simplistic notions of rationality and choice found in economics and political science, and this is the latest of many books displaying his unique combination of rigorous analysis and poetic. He is also a notable proponent of analytical marxism, and a critic of neoclassical economics and public choice theory, largely on behavioral and psychological grounds in 2016, he was awarded the. Prosocial behavior and social norms uc san diego social. Jul 01, 20 in defense of elsters mechanisms, kimberly chuang. Explaining social behavior jon elster by anglea genuario issuu. What the book does not do is reduce human emotion to simple axiomatic truths. One commonality that explaining social behavior has with contemporary pop psychology is that it outlines emotion as being more central than logic. Elster explaining social behavior ec 107 studeersnel. Jon elster a short version of this paper appears in the 2010 world social science. Cambridge core social theory explaining social behavior by jon elster. Explanation iii the interpretive critique of causal explanation in the social sciences. Jon elster, 2007, explaining social behavior, cambridge up herbert gintis, bowles, boyd, and fehr, eds.
Published in volume 3, issue 4, pages 99117 of journal of economic perspectives, fall 1989, abstract. Well, there has indeed been an evolution, but perhaps not as. Alchemies of the mind rationality and the emotions. Behaviour in feuds, vendettas, duels, revenge are often closely regulated. This is a delightfully engaging book by one of the best thinkers of our age.
Jon elster has made important contributions to several fields, including rational choice theory, political science, and philosophy. Even when it does not explain much, it can have immense conceptual value. James surowiecki 2005 general the paradox of choice. This article sketches an assessment of jon elsters theory of creativity in the arts, especially in the context of modernism. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Department of social sciences, university of brescia. More nuts and bolts for the social sciences find, read and cite all the research. Three favorites if i had to recommend only three articles by elster i would choose the following.
The evolution of social behavior university of washington. An expanded and revised edition of the authors critically acclaimed volume nuts and bolts for the social sciences. He is also a notable proponent of analytical marxism, and a critic of neoclassical economics and public choice theory, largely on behavioral and psychological grounds. Jon elster born 22 february 1940, oslo is a norwegian social and political theorist who has authored works in the philosophy of social science and rational choice theory. Proposing choice as the central concept of the social sciences, this book will greatly interest upperlevel students and undergraduates of political philosophy, economics, psychology and. Appraisals of leading economists, edited by warren samuels edward elgar publishing, 1992 jon elster has made important contributions to several fields, including rational choice theory, political science, and philosophy. More nuts and bolts for the social sciences 2rev ed by jon elster isbn. Jon elster s strength is his deep understanding of behavioral science as well as the classical writers on human nature and human society. Introduction this book is about explaining social behavior. More on nuts and bolts for the social sciences find, read and cite all the research you need on. He is also a notable proponent of analytical marxism, and a critic of neoclassical economics and public choice theory, largely on behavioral and psychological grounds biography. He offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms in the social sciences, relying on hundreds of examples and drawing on a large variety of sources psychology, behavioral economics, biology, political science, historical. This is not a book on social behavior so much as how to create a solid theory or research study to explain behavior and the limitations of various methodologies in developing a fully causal explanation of peoples behavior. Jon elster born 1940 is a norwegian social and political theorist who has authored works in the philosophy of social science and rational choice theory.
Explaining social behavior more nuts and bolts for the social sciences this book is an expanded and revised edition of the authors critically acclaimed volume nuts and bolts for the social sciences. Extensively revised throughout, the book offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms, drawing on many case studies and experiments to explore the. This book is an expanded and revised edition of the authors critically acclaimed volume nuts and bolts for the social s. Following his lifelong research, jon elster presents in this book the political and social thinker. In this new edition of his critically acclaimed book, jon elster examines the nature of social behavior, proposing choice as the central concept of the social sciences. Social sciences jon elster excerpt more information.
For at least two decades, one of elster s goals has been to undermine and enrich the simplistic notions of rationality and choice found in economics and political science, and this is the latest of many books displaying his unique combination of rigorous analysis and poetic sensitivity, in this. In the past several years, his goal has been to join the two, throwing in the natural sciences, to explain. Explaining social behavior by jon elster cambridge university press. Hard and soft obscurantism in the humanities and social. For the theory to explain behavior, two assumptions must hold. In the past several years, his goal has been to join the two, throwing in the natural sciences, to explain more fully the nature of society.
An adequate explanation of an agents behaviour or action must include reasons. Allow me to cite from my book explaining social behavior, published in april. Review of jon elster, explaining social behavior, cambridge university press 2007 herbert gintis. Reason and rationality offers a comprehensive but also frugal overview of his work. Revised edition jon elster frontmatter more information. More nuts and bolts for the social sciences article pdf available in philosophy of the social sciences 401. Elster, jon 1996, rationality and the emotions, the economic journal, 106 438. The breadth and depth of his writings are striking in a time of high specialisation. Drawing on his earlier work on the explanation of social behavior, jon elster argues that tocquevilles main claim to our attention today rests on the large number of exportable causal mechanisms to be found in his work, many of. Ulysses and the sirens studies in rationality and irrationality. Gary becker 1976, the economic approach to human behaviour.
Februar 1940 ist ein norwegischusamerikanischer sozialwissenschaftler. He offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms in the social sciences, relying on hundreds of examples and drawing on a large. Jon elsters strength is his deep understanding of behavioral science as well as the classical writers on human nature and human society. Jul 31, 2015 explaining social behavior by jon elster, 97811074164, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Elster offers illuminating insights into a wide variety of fundamental psychological and social phenomena. Books by jon elster author of explaining social behavior.
Hard and soft obscurantism in the humanities and social sciences show all authors. Although i did mention the role of the emotions in sustaining social norms, i did not focus explicitly on the. Jon elster has 73 books on goodreads with 4169 ratings. Prosocial behavior and social norms 16 october 2007 political science 219. Jon elster, nuts and bolts for the social sciences. Instead, elster presents emotion as the messy business it really is. The article considers elsters views on artistic maxima, including a consideration of the distinction. Extensively revised throughout, the book offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms, drawing on. Extensively revised throughout, the book offers an overview of key explanatory mechanisms, drawing on many case studies and. The question jon elster addresses in this challenging book is what binds societies together and prevents them from disintegrating into chaos and war. Jan 01, 1989 explaining social behaviour is a very erudite, very intelligent scholars attempt to translate the mind boggling complexities of social interaction, myriad of behaviours and infinite motivations into a logical structure with mathematical underpinnings, a sort of sociological calculus. Lichtenstein and slovic editors 2006 academic the wisdom of crowds. You can also buy the expanded explaining social behavior. Explaining social behavior by jon elster, 97811074164, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
More nuts and bolts for the social sciences cambridge. Forces and mechanisms in the constitutionmaking process jon elstert. Read explaining social behavior more nuts and bolts for the social sciences by jon elster available from rakuten kobo. Philosophy of the social sciences general guide to. This is a remarkably lucid and comprehensive introduction to the social sciences for students of political science, philosophy, sociology and economics. Cambridge core political philosophy explaining social behavior by jon elster. One of the most persistent cleavages in the social sciences is the opposition between two lines of thought conveniently associated with adam smith an. Always charming as well as lucid, in this superb new edition elster gives intriguing answers to fascinating questions.
This substantially revised edition of jon elsters acclaimed book exploring the nature of social behavior features a wholly new chapter and a new conclusion. Elsters perspective on constraints in the arts is immensely valuable for thinking through questions of artistic strategies, norms, innovation and originality. Political science 270 mechanisms of international relations. Lake and robert powell, strategic choice in international relations. Explaining social behavior jon elster by anglea genuario. More nuts and bolts for the social sciences cambridge, cambridge university press, 2007. Jon elsters most popular book is explaining social behavior. Buy ebook explaining social behavior by jon elster, ebook format, from the dymocks online bookstore. Apr 23, 2020 within a brief compass, jon elster covers a vast range of topics. How would you explain your evolution on this issue. This substantially revised edition of jon elster s acclaimed book exploring the nature of social behavior features a wholly new chapter and a new conclusion.
Alexander museum of zoology and department of zoology, the university of michigan, ann arbor, michigan 48104 introduction. It is always possible to define interest in an allembracing way so. Such models are the first step in the study of mechanisms that explain. Reason and rationality offers a comprehensive but also frugal overview of. The current financial crisis has brought out a fatal flaw in the foundations. Jon elster examines the nature of social behavior, proposing choice as the central concept of the social sciences. More nuts and bolts for the social sciences new york. It encompasses an astonishing, hypothetical wonderverse of assumptions that an intriguing, difficult, exhausting and significant book. Coleman individual interests and collective action arthur s tinch comb e stratification and organization diego gambetta were they pushed or did they jump.
Unive rsity press 9780521269841 ulysses and the sirens. More nuts and bolts for the social sciences jon elster excerpt more information. Sep 01, 2019 jon elster, explaining social behaviour. Forces and mechanisms in the constitutionmaking process.