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INCOMMENSURABLE ALTERNATIVES AND RATIONAL CHOICE
Author(s) -
Andreou Chrisoula
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
ratio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.475
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1467-9329
pISSN - 0034-0006
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9329.2005.00288.x
Subject(s) - completeness (order theory) , epistemology , rational choice theory (criminology) , reflection (computer programming) , rationality , philosophy , mathematical economics , economics , sociology , mathematics , computer science , mathematical analysis , criminology , programming language
I consider the implications of incommensurability for the assumption, in rational choice theory, that a rational agent's preferences are complete. I argue that, contrary to appearances, the completeness assumption and the existence of incommensurability are compatible. Indeed, reflection on incommensurability suggests that one's preferences should be complete over even the incommensurable alternatives one faces.