Many social scientists want to explain why people do what they do. A barrier to constructing such explanations used to be a lack of information on the relationship between cognition and choice. Now, recent advances in cognitive science, economics, political science, and psychology have clarified this relationship. In Elements of Reason, eighteen scholars from across the social sciences use these advances to uncover the cognitive foundations of social decision making. They answer tough questions about how people see and process information and provide new explanations of how basic human needs, the environment, and past experiences combine to affect human choices. Elements of Reason is written for a broad audience and should be read by anyone for whom 'Why do people do what they do?' is an important question. It is the rare book that transforms abstract debates about rationality and reason into empirically relevant explanations of how people choose.

Advances in the social sciences are used to uncover cognitive foundations of social decision making.
Reviews
'Elements of Reason remains a very impressive volume and represents a substantial advance in a field that has hitherto appeared mired in debates about 'rationality'. It certainly will stimulate a great deal of debate and further research in its field.' International Affairs



Book Information
ISBN 9780521653299
Author Arthur Lupia
Format Hardback
Page Count 344
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 580g
Dimensions(mm) 238mm * 159mm * 25mm