¿Existen muchos tipos de racionalidad?

Este artículo tiene tres objetivos principales. En primer lugar, ofrecer una panorámica de las teorías de la racionalidad actualmente disponibles en ciencias sociales. En segundo lugar, discutir la especificidad de la aproximación de Boudon en contraste con las anteriores. Finalmente, sugerir algunas vías a través de las cuales la aproximación puede ser mejorada y completada con la finalidad de alcanzar una teoría sólida de la interpretación de las acciones humanas en el mundo social.Aquest article té tres objectius principals. En primer lloc, oferir una panoràmica de les teories de la racionalitat actualment disponibles en ciències socials. En segon lloc, discutir l'especificitat de l'aproximació de Boudon en contrast amb les anteriors. Finalment, suggerir algunes vies a través de les quals l'aproximació pot ser millorada i completada amb la finalitat d'assolir una teoria sòlida de la interpretació de les accions humanes en el món social.This paper has three basic objectives. First, it summarizes the general theories of rationality that are currently available in the social sciences. Secondly, it describes the specificity of Boudon's approach to rationality in contrast to the previous ones. Finally, it suggests a few ways in which this approach can be enhanced and complemented in order to achieve a solid theory on the interpretation of human actions in a social world

Esthétique et rationalité du choix des prénoms

Dans leurs travaux sur les prénoms, Ph. Besnard et G. Desplanques évoquent à plusieurs reprises la dimension « esthétique » du choix de ceux-ci. Le remarquable modèle de choix « rationnel » des prénoms qu’ils mettent en avant est ainsi une contribution originale à l’étude de la formation des goûts. Il n’est en effet pas habituel du point de vue d’une théorie standard du choix rationnel d’y inclure l’analyse des préférences esthétiques jugées généralement « irrationnelles », ou en tout cas étr..

La définition des coûts et avantages, entre identité et diversité des préférences

Un aspect fondamental de la théorisation en sciences sociales – et plus particulièrement de la sociologie – tient à la définition des concepts auxquels elles recourent, et qui leur servent de base dans leurs ambitions descriptives aussi bien qu’explicatives. La pertinence du projet des sciences sociales requiert une précision aussi grande que possible dans l’usage des concepts, qui évite le caractère essentiellement allusif de leur usage (reposant sur ce qui relèverait d’« évidences »), la po..

Pascal ENGEL, Manuel rationaliste de survie

Le dernier livre de Pascal Engel est très ambitieux : se présentant comme un « manuel » rationaliste, il s’agit en réalité d’un traité sur la rationalité, essayant de systématiser le rôle et l’importance de celle-ci, en philosophie et dans la vie sociale. Il développe en même temps un plaidoyer en faveur de la rationalité qui est jugée attaquée, en particulier dans la tradition philosophique contemporaine, mais aussi en psychologie (et plus rapidement en sociologie, l’analyse économique étant..

Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions

The importance of seed provisioning in food security and nutrition, agricultural development and rural livelihoods, and agrobiodiversity and germplasm conservation is well accepted by policy makers, practitioners and researchers. The role of farmer seed networks is less well understood and yet is central to debates on current issues ranging from seed sovereignty and rights for farmers to GMOs and the conservation of crop germplasm. In this paper we identify four common misconceptions regarding the nature and importance of farmer seed networks today. (1) Farmer seed networks are inefficient for seed dissemination. (2) Farmer seed networks are closed, conservative systems. (3) Farmer seed networks provide ready, egalitarian access to seed. (4) Farmer seed networks are destined to weaken and disappear. We challenge these misconceptions by drawing upon recent research findings and the authors’ collective field experience in studying farmer seed systems in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Priorities for future research are suggested that would advance our understanding of seed networks and better inform agricultural and food policy

Farmer seed networks make a limited contribution to agriculture? Four common misconceptions

a b s t r a c t The importance of seed provisioning in food security and nutrition, agricultural development and rural livelihoods, and agrobiodiversity and germplasm conservation is well accepted by policy makers, practitioners and researchers. The role of farmer seed networks is less well understood and yet is central to debates on current issues ranging from seed sovereignty and rights for farmers to GMOs and the conservation of crop germplasm. In this paper we identify four common misconceptions regarding the nature and importance of farmer seed networks today. (1) Farmer seed networks are inefficient for seed dissemination. (2) Farmer seed networks are closed, conservative systems. (3) Farmer seed networks provide ready, egalitarian access to seed. (4) Farmer seed networks are destined to weaken and disappear. We challenge these misconceptions by drawing upon recent research findings and the authors' collective field experience in studying farmer seed systems in Africa, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Priorities for future research are suggested that would advance our understanding of seed networks and better inform agricultural and food policy

Agent-Based Simulation as an Implementation of Methodological Individualism

This paper investigates the relationship between methodological individualism (MI) and Agent-Based Simulation (ABS). We discuss and analyze a thesis defended by philosophers Caterina Marchionni and Petri Ylikoski (2013). The thesis maintains that, since MI is often considered to be a reductionist approach, it is confusing and meaningless to assume that ABS, which is a non-reductionist and emergentist explanatory model, is committed to MI. We reject this thesis arguing that, from a philosophical standpoint, addressing the problem of the consistency between MI and ABS from a strictly utilitarian perspective is unsatisfactory. We analyze this problem in more substantial terms, i.e. focusing on its more theoretical and conceptual aspects. Moreover, we maintain that ABS explanations must be regarded as individualist explanations and provide a set of logical and historical arguments against the widespread interpretation of MI in terms of reductionism

VOLUNTEER’S MOTIVATION IN GLOBAL SOUTH DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE : Online volunteering by heterogeneous target group

The aim of the study was to compare a survey about Finnish church volunteers, with a survey conducted for this paper, about international online correspondents of a development magazine (GSDM). The focus was the motivation of the volunteers to act for their respective organizations. The materials used were the results of interviews already done by Anne Birgitta Yeung, in her book Volunteering in Late Modernity, and an additional set of interviews of GSDM writers. Semi guided interviews were used, as in the original survey from Yeung. The interviews were built with former questionnaires used in a previous survey about GSDM correspondents. Yeung’s ocotagon of volunteer’s motivation was also used, with its four pairs of motivation poles. An analysis of the new interviews has been done and then a comparison with the church volunteers’ survey. New factors such as age, heterogeneity and a new concept of proximity rose up. The output is defined by additional factors of motivation, that should be tested through further researches. The age and heterogeneity have an impact on the motivation of the volunteers, on the contrary to the online aspect of the volunteering, which does not seem to affect the correspondents’ actions

¿Existen muchos tipos de racionalidad?

Este artículo tiene tres objetivos principales. En primer lugar, ofrecer una panorámica de las teorías de la racionalidad actualmente disponibles en ciencias sociales. En segundo lugar, discutir la especificidad de la aproximación de Boudon en contraste con las anteriores. Finalmente, sugerir algunas vías a través de las cuales la aproximación puede ser mejorada y completada con la finalidad de alcanzar una teoría sólida de la interpretación de las acciones humanas en el mundo social.Aquest article té tres objectius principals. En primer lloc, oferir una panoràmica de les teories de la racionalitat actualment disponibles en ciències socials. En segon lloc, discutir l'especificitat de l'aproximació de Boudon en contrast amb les anteriors. Finalment, suggerir algunes vies a través de les quals l'aproximació pot ser millorada i completada amb la finalitat d'assolir una teoria sòlida de la interpretació de les accions humanes en el món social.This paper has three basic objectives. First, it summarizes the general theories of rationality that are currently available in the social sciences. Secondly, it describes the specificity of Boudon's approach to rationality in contrast to the previous ones. Finally, it suggests a few ways in which this approach can be enhanced and complemented in order to achieve a solid theory on the interpretation of human actions in a social world

Esistono più tipi di razionalità?

This paper has three basic objectives. First, it summarizes the general theories of rationality that are currently available in the social sciences. Secondly, it describes the specificity of Boudon’s approach to rationality in contrast to the previous ones. Finally, it suggests a few ways in which this approach can be enhanced and complemented in order to achieve a solid theory on the interpretation of human actions in a social world