Two conceptions of reason

Two conceptions of reason are considered - the planning conception, embodied, for example, in rational choice theory and other familiar paradigms, and the improvisational conception, emerging from work on artificial intelligence and organization theory. Two illustrations are given of the problematic nature of the planning conception: ( 1) the inevitability of incompleteness in contracting and ( 2) the burdens of reason identified by John Rawls. Two diagnoses are provided for these infirmities: ( 1) the inexhaustibility of description and ( 2) the constructed nature of preferences and values. An alternative improvisational model is sketched and risk-spreading and bet-hedging are identified as two of its key technologies.

Social sciences & humanities index.

Quarterly issues have their own vol. numbering, e.g. June 1965 called v.53, no.1.

Social sciences & humanities index.

Quarterly issues with separate vol. numbering (v. 53-61) cumulated annually.

Life of Linnaeus [review] / forming the first part of the Memoirs of the Royal Society of Sciences, Agriculture and Arts of Lille for 1832.

Reprinted from: American Journal of Science & Arts. 1833. 25: 151-161.

A step in the right direction

Selection of papers from conference entitled A step in the right direction, University of Queensland, 16 November 2002. Papers relate to work placements of Behavioural Studies students.