Rationality

About: Rationality is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 20459 publications have been published within this topic receiving 617787 citations.

Subversive rationalization: technology, power and democracy 1

Abstract: This paper argues, against technological and economic determinism, that the dominant model of industrial society is politically contingent. The idea that technical decisions are significantly constrained by ‘rationality’ ‐ either technical or economic ‐ is shown to be groundless. Constructivist and hermeneutic approaches to technology show that modern societies are inherently available for a different type of development in a different cultural framework. It is possible that, in the future, those who today are subordinated to technology's rhythms and demands will be able to control it and to determine its evolution. I call the process of creating such a society ‘subversive rationalization’ because it requires technological advances that can only be made in opposition to the dominant hegemony.

Everyday Evaluation on the Run

Abstract: Over the past decade, the idea of a 'culture of evaluation' or of research has become widespread. Where once it had to be argued that people's everyday evaluative thinking and feeling rationality had legitimacy, this is now largely considered unremarkable. And where once people's input was seen as essentially 'biased', stakeholder involvement is now considered essential, both as a source of experiential 'data' as well as for its users' own successfully reflexive practice. Indeed, the codes of conduct of the world's evaluation societies now mandate it as part of fully professional practice. The sequel to this book, Building in Research and Evaluation: Human Inquiry for Living Systems, describes a deep rationale for why this should be so.

Knowledge and Evidence

Abstract: Acknowedgments Introduction 1 Conditions for propositional knowledge 2 Minimal epistemic reasons 3 Justifying epistemic reasons 4 Foundationalism and some alternatives 5 Procedural epistemic rationality 6 Propositional knowledge References Index

Essays in Social Theory

Abstract: These essays draw together the author's thoughts on a diverse range of sociological issues. Dominant themes are: the distinction between normative and empirical theorizing and the relationship between them; the bearing of theory on evidence; and the alleged relativity of standards of rationality.

Reason and teaching

Abstract: 'Exhibits to the highest degree that commitment to rationality that Scheffler is so at pains to argue on behalf of. No viewpoint is misrepresented: there is meticulous concern to state the issues' - "Philosophical Books".