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Rationality versus program-based behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2007

Geoffrey M. Hodgson
Geoffrey M. Hodgson
Affiliation:
Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics, The Business School, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, United Kingdom. g.m.hodgson@herts.ac.ukhttp://www.geoffrey-hodgson.info
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Abstract

For Herbert Gintis, the “rational actor,” or “beliefs, preferences, and constraints (BPC),” model is central to his unifying framework for the behavioral sciences. It is not argued here that this model is refuted by evidence. Instead, this model relies ubiquitously on auxiliary assumptions, and is evacuated of much meaning when applied to both human and nonhuman organisms. An alternative perspective of “program-based behavior” is more consistent with evolutionary principles.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 30 , Issue 1 , February 2007 , pp. 29 - 30
Copyright
2007 Cambridge University Press

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