Skip to content
Cart 
Register Sign in
Register Sign in Wishlist
Academic

Unlocking potential with the best learning and research solutions
Look Inside Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences

Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences

$57.99 USD

  • Date Published: July 2013
  • availability: This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
  • format: Adobe eBook Reader
  • isbn: 9781107108202

    • Find out more about Cambridge eBooks

$ 57.99 USD
Adobe eBook Reader

You will be taken to ebooks.com for this purchase
Buy eBook Add to wishlist

Other available formats:
Paperback

Looking for an inspection copy?

This title is not currently available on inspection

Description
Product filter button
Description
Contents
Resources
Courses
About the Authors

  • This 1989 book is intended as an introductory survey of the philosophy of the social sciences. It is essentially a work of exposition which offers a toolbox of mechanisms - nuts and bolts, cogs and wheels - that can be used to explain complex social phenomena. Within a brief compass, Jon Elster covers a vast range of topics. His point of departure is the conflict we all face between our desires and our opportunities. How can rational choice theory help us understand our motivation and behaviour? More significantly, what happens when the theory breaks down but we still cleave to a belief in the power of the rational? Elster describes the fascinating range of forms of irrationality - wishful thinking, the phenomenon of sour grapes, discounting the future in noncooperative behaviour. This is a remarkably lucid and comprehensive introduction to the social sciences for students of political science, philosophy, sociology and economics.

    Customer reviews

    Not yet reviewed

    Be the first to review

    Review was not posted due to profanity

    ×

    , create a review

    (If you're not , sign out)

    Please enter the right captcha value
    Please enter a star rating.
    Your review must be a minimum of 12 words.

    How do you rate this item?

    ×

    Product details

    • Date Published: July 2013
    • format: Adobe eBook Reader
    • isbn: 9781107108202
    • contains: 19 b/w illus.
    • availability: This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.

  • Table of Contents

    Preface
    Acknowledgements
    Part I. Introduction:
    1. Mechanisms
    Part II. Human Action:
    2. Desires and opportunities
    3. Rational choice
    4. When rationality fails
    5. Myopia and foresight
    6. Selfishness and altruism
    7. Emotions
    8. Natural and social selection
    9. Reinforcement
    Part III. Interaction:
    10. Unintended consequences
    11. Equilibrium
    12. Social norms
    13. Collective action
    14. Bargaining
    15. Social institutions
    16. Social change
    Bibliographical essay
    Index.

    Look Inside

  • Author

    Jon Elster, Columbia University, New York

This title is available for institutional purchase via Cambridge Core

Related Books

  • Solomonic Judgements

    Solomonic Judgements

    Studies in the Limitation of Rationality
  • Interpersonal Comparisons of Well-Being

    Interpersonal Comparisons of Well-Being
  • Getting Hooked

    Getting Hooked

    Rationality and Addiction
  • The Critical Mass in Collective Action

    The Critical Mass in Collective Action
  • Ulysses Unbound

    Ulysses Unbound

    Studies in Rationality, Precommitment, and Constraints
  • Political Psychology

    Political Psychology
  • Rethinking Democracy:Freedom and Social Co-operation in Politics, Economy, and Society

    Rethinking Democracy:Freedom and Social Co-operation in Politics, Economy, and Society

related journals

also by this author

  • Constituent Assemblies

    Constituent Assemblies
  • Constitutionalism and Democracy

    Constitutionalism and Democracy
  • Deliberative Democracy

    Deliberative Democracy
  • Foundations of Social Choice Theory

    Foundations of Social Choice Theory
  • Explaining Technical Change

    Explaining Technical Change

    A Case Study in the Philosophy of Science
  • Karl Marx

    Karl Marx

    A Reader
  • Interpersonal Comparisons of Well-Being

    Interpersonal Comparisons of Well-Being
  • Institutional Design in Post-Communist Societies

    Institutional Design in Post-Communist Societies

    Rebuilding the Ship at Sea
  • Making Sense of Marx

    Making Sense of Marx
  • Local Justice

    Local Justice

    How Institutions Allocate Scarce Goods and Necessary Burdens
  • Political Psychology

    Political Psychology
  • Alternatives to Capitalism

    Alternatives to Capitalism
  • An Introduction to Karl Marx

    An Introduction to Karl Marx
  • Solomonic Judgements

    Solomonic Judgements

    Studies in the Limitation of Rationality
  • The Cement of Society

    The Cement of Society

    A Survey of Social Order
  • The Multiple Self

    The Multiple Self
  • Ulysses and the Sirens

    Ulysses and the Sirens

    Studies in Rationality and Irrationality
  • Alchemies of the Mind

    Alchemies of the Mind

    Rationality and the Emotions
  • Getting Hooked

    Getting Hooked

    Rationality and Addiction
  • Explaining Social Behavior

    Explaining Social Behavior

    More Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences
  • Ulysses Unbound

    Ulysses Unbound

    Studies in Rationality, Precommitment, and Constraints
  • Retribution and Reparation in the Transition to Democracy

    Retribution and Reparation in the Transition to Democracy
  • Closing the Books

    Closing the Books

    Transitional Justice in Historical Perspective
  • Tocqueville: The Ancien Régime and the French Revolution

    Tocqueville: The Ancien Régime and the French Revolution
  • Alexis de Tocqueville, the First Social Scientist

    Alexis de Tocqueville, the First Social Scientist
  • Collective Wisdom

    Collective Wisdom

    Principles and Mechanisms
  • Securities against Misrule

    Securities against Misrule

    Juries, Assemblies, Elections
  • Majority Decisions

    Majority Decisions

    Principles and Practices
  • Sour Grapes

    Sour Grapes

    Studies in the Subversion of Rationality
  • Explaining Social Behavior

    Explaining Social Behavior

    More Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences
  • Secrecy and Publicity in Votes and Debates

    Secrecy and Publicity in Votes and Debates

Browse by related subject

Sorry, this resource is locked

Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]

Register Sign in
Please note that this file is password protected. You will be asked to input your password on the next screen.

» Proceed

You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.

Continue ×

Continue ×

Continue ×
warning icon

Turn stock notifications on?

You must be signed in to your Cambridge account to turn product stock notifications on or off.

Sign in Create a Cambridge account arrow icon
×

Save 20% off on your next online purchase with Cambridge Alerts

Receive email alerts on new books, offers and news...

Subscribe

Find content that relates to you

Join us online

This site uses cookies to improve your experience. Read more Close

Are you sure you want to delete your account?

This cannot be undone.

Cancel

Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.

If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.

×
Please fill in the required fields in your feedback submission.
×