Sour Grapes: Studies in the Subversion of Rationality
Abstract
Sour Grapes aims to subvert orthodox theories of rational choice through the study of forms of irrationality. Dr Elster begins with an analysis of the notation of rationality, to provide the background and terms for the subsequent discussions, which cover irrational behaviour, irrational desires and irrational belief. These essays continue and complement the arguments of Jon Elster's earlier book, Ulysses and the Sirens. That was published to wide acclaim, and Dr Elster shows the same versatility here in drawing on philosophy, political and social theory, decision-theory, economics and psychology, as well as history and literature.
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Projects or policies are capable of changing people's preferences, largely due to adaptive processes.
“It has also been previously recognised that projects or policies are capable of changing people's preferences (Elster, 1983;Bowles, 1998), and this is largely due to adaptive processes.”
From Measuring Subjective Wellbeing: Recommendations on Measures for use by National Governments (2012) · cites this paper as Elster, 1983
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Cited by 1,577
- Authors
- Elster, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Elster, Jon
- ORCID
- Elster, Jon
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 1983-06-23
- OpenAlex
- W4240826457
- Cited by
- 1,577
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 100 · 2025: 77 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 35 · 2017: 43 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 36 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 49 · 2012: 61
- FWCI
- 5.05
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economic Theory and Institutions
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Philosophical Ethics and Theory
- Keywords
- irrationality, rational choice theory, irrational behavior, irrational beliefs, rationality, decision theory, psychology, political theory, social theory, history, literature
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