Genuine lecture 6

Question 1

How do we explain everyday human behavior?

Answer 1

By citing goals and beliefs = a.k.a. reasons.

Question 2

What is instrumentally rational?

Answer 2

To act in accordance with their goals and their beliefs about how best to reach these goals

Question 3

Does Instrumental rationality also work in social sciences?

Answer 3

No;

Example of admiral Tyron’s ship: When the goal is unclear, done without reasons, what is the reasons why people do something

Question 4

How do you need to give scientific explnations according by Wimble?

Answer 4

Something happens, to explain that thing, we need to look for general laws, apply those laws and explain how the [phenomenon follows the law. Give this in a deductive argument way.

Question 5

What is a explanandum?

Answer 5

Things we need to explain

Question 6

What are explanans

Answer 6

Things we explained

Question 7

Does Wimbles method work in social sciences?

Answer 7

Not really,

• The laws of nature are different than social laws.

Then perhaps by the istrumental rationality?

no,
* The law of instrumental rationality is normative, it an ought how humans should behave. But not what they in fact do. This is different than the laws of nature.

Question 8

What are Psychological underpinnings??

Answer 8

oGiving stereotypes, our thinking is biased, using shortcuts, not optimal.
oJust being humans

Explanation:
 By the evolution of human brain.
* By nature, and nurture.
o
This put limits on interpretivism.
 On the way how people can think

Question 9

What did Peter Winch Thought of reasons and casues?

Answer 9

Reasons and causes are different. Reasons are normative things; they don’t determine a casue

Question 10

What are criteria for good reasons according to winch?

Answer 10

Criteria for good reasons are relative to cultures, languages and practices. Human behavior is specific to different cultures, and therefore we don’t have a general law for human behavior.

Question 11

What does Davidson think of Winchs theory?

Answer 11

There can be a general law for humans.

• Reasons justify actions, but many possible reasons can justify the same action.
  o Running for the train because your late, running because you like it.
• But in an explanation we want to know the true reason, the primary reason.
  o This is the action cause.
   Those Davidson think this are laws?
  o No, he doesn’t think does are law.
   The primary reason are causes. When you explain this we don’t have general laws, only laws on lower levels. Because everything is deemed to the individual.

Question 12

What is the rational choice theory?

Answer 12

A way to make instrumental rationality more precise in a mathematical way.

Looking at what the people only prefer.

Question 13

How do you measure with Rational choice theory?

Answer 13

By measuring the amount of what people prefer you get a utility number.

This is the only thing you need to explain behavior.

Question 14

How plausible is Rational choice theory to use?

Answer 14

• It assumes a lot of people, computer like calculating people.
• People don’t have full information about possible and expected outcomes?
• Can you compare all values, coffee versus spending time with friends. So hence this can not put on a single scale if utility.

Question 15

What are replies against the crtique of RCT?

Answer 15

RCT is not a complete theory about all aspects. But a model, and idealization.

RCT is not meant to be use on individuals, but on the average of a big group of people.

Question 16

What is the RCT sympathy problem?

Answer 16

The idea that the welfare of other people shows on your own radar. Your only care about other people if it influences you personally. Social media example.

Question 17

What is meant with the RCT commitment?

Answer 17

Caring about for doing the right thing, not in my for doing self pleasure.

Question 18

Whats another problem with RCT?

Answer 18

• If people value doing the right thing even if it goes against there own welfare, they derive form the utility.

o But his threatens to make the theory unfalsifiable.

Question 19

Reply for the problems of RCT

Answer 19

• If people value doing the right thing even if it goes against there own welfare, they derive form the utility.
  o But his threatens to make the theory unfalsifiable.
• Then accept instrumentalism about RCT, it’s a instrument, only useful to measure patterns, make predictions etc.

o Bit too radical though. RCt describes more then.

• ?? As a Structural theory: compromise between instrumentalism and naturalism/realism. It isn’t about individuals, but the average of between groups. What structure? A average of group of individuals/ bigger groups. Behaviour of groups is structed in way to get average of a group…