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In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined. However, the author of this study argues that rationality is context-dependent, and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' political power. He uses a real-world Danish project to illustrate this theory.
Book Synopsis Rationality and Power by : Bent Flyvbjerg
Download or read book Rationality and Power written by Bent Flyvbjerg and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1998-02-28 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined. However, the author of this study argues that rationality is context-dependent, and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' political power. He uses a real-world Danish project to illustrate this theory.
"It's like the story of Little Town," an influential actor says in Rationality and Power when choosing a metaphor to describe how he manipulated rationality to gain power, "The bell ringer . . . has to set the church clock. So he calls the telephone exchange and asks what time it is, and the telephone operator looks out the window towards the church clock and says, 'It's five o'clock.' 'Good,' says the bell ringer, 'then my clock is correct.'" In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined, independent of context; we know what rationality is, and its meaning is constant across time and space. Bent Flyvbjerg shows that rationality is context-dependent and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' power. Power blurs the dividing line between rationality and rationalization. The result is a rationality that is often as imaginary as the time in Little Town, yet with very real social and environmental consequences. Flyvbjerg takes us behind the scenes to uncover the real politics—and real rationality—of policy-making, administration, and planning in an internationally acclaimed project for environmental improvement, auto traffic reduction, land use, and urban renewal. The action takes place in the Danish city of Aalborg, but it could be anywhere. Aalborg is to Flyvbjerg what Florence was to Machiavelli: a laboratory for understanding power and what it means for our more general concerns of social and political organization. Policy-making, administration, and planning are examined in ways that allow a rare, in-depth understanding. The reader is a firsthand witness to the classic, endless drama that defines what democracy and modernity are, and what they can be. The result is a fascinating narrative that is both concrete and general, current and timeless. Drawing on the ideas of Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Foucault, and Habermas, Flyvbjerg reads the Aalborg case as a metaphor of modernity and of modern politics, administration, and planning. Flyvbjerg uncovers the interplay of power and rationality that distorts policy deliberation. He demonstrates that modern "rationality" is but an ideal when confronted with the real rationalities involved in decision making by central actors in government, economy, and civil society. Flyvbjerg then elaborates on how this problem can be dealt with so that more fruitful deliberation and action can occur. If the new millennium marks a recurrence of the real, Flyvbjerg's Rationality and Power epitomizes this development, setting new standards for social and political inquiry. Richly informed, powerfully argued, and clearly written, this is a book that no one trying to understand policy-making, administration, and planning can afford to overlook. "Flyvbjerg employs a wide-ranging intellect, an enthusiastic and persuasive voice, academic rigor, and great discipline to distill years of research into an outstanding and accessible 250-page civics lesson. It begs for a readership outside academic and professional circles . . . Rationality and Power's value is undeniable as a handbook and forensic tool for anyone seeking a better understanding of and access to the democratic process."—Arkansas Democrat-Gazette "It makes an extremely strong, and to the reviewer's mind incontrovertible, argument for placing the analysis of planning within the context of power relations. As a result it will also make a significant mark on the development of planning theory."—Geographical Journal "A book that is to be recommended doubly, first to all those engaged in planning and implementation in a democratic context, and also to all those interested in empirical power research. Rationality and Power is rewarding even enthralling reading, a seminal contribution to its field."—European Societies "This book is a must for anyone interested in how planning works . . . a reality shock . . . excellent and illuminating."—International Planning Studies
Book Synopsis Rationality and Power by : Bent Flyvbjerg
Download or read book Rationality and Power written by Bent Flyvbjerg and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 1998-02-28 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "It's like the story of Little Town," an influential actor says in Rationality and Power when choosing a metaphor to describe how he manipulated rationality to gain power, "The bell ringer . . . has to set the church clock. So he calls the telephone exchange and asks what time it is, and the telephone operator looks out the window towards the church clock and says, 'It's five o'clock.' 'Good,' says the bell ringer, 'then my clock is correct.'" In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined, independent of context; we know what rationality is, and its meaning is constant across time and space. Bent Flyvbjerg shows that rationality is context-dependent and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' power. Power blurs the dividing line between rationality and rationalization. The result is a rationality that is often as imaginary as the time in Little Town, yet with very real social and environmental consequences. Flyvbjerg takes us behind the scenes to uncover the real politics—and real rationality—of policy-making, administration, and planning in an internationally acclaimed project for environmental improvement, auto traffic reduction, land use, and urban renewal. The action takes place in the Danish city of Aalborg, but it could be anywhere. Aalborg is to Flyvbjerg what Florence was to Machiavelli: a laboratory for understanding power and what it means for our more general concerns of social and political organization. Policy-making, administration, and planning are examined in ways that allow a rare, in-depth understanding. The reader is a firsthand witness to the classic, endless drama that defines what democracy and modernity are, and what they can be. The result is a fascinating narrative that is both concrete and general, current and timeless. Drawing on the ideas of Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Foucault, and Habermas, Flyvbjerg reads the Aalborg case as a metaphor of modernity and of modern politics, administration, and planning. Flyvbjerg uncovers the interplay of power and rationality that distorts policy deliberation. He demonstrates that modern "rationality" is but an ideal when confronted with the real rationalities involved in decision making by central actors in government, economy, and civil society. Flyvbjerg then elaborates on how this problem can be dealt with so that more fruitful deliberation and action can occur. If the new millennium marks a recurrence of the real, Flyvbjerg's Rationality and Power epitomizes this development, setting new standards for social and political inquiry. Richly informed, powerfully argued, and clearly written, this is a book that no one trying to understand policy-making, administration, and planning can afford to overlook. "Flyvbjerg employs a wide-ranging intellect, an enthusiastic and persuasive voice, academic rigor, and great discipline to distill years of research into an outstanding and accessible 250-page civics lesson. It begs for a readership outside academic and professional circles . . . Rationality and Power's value is undeniable as a handbook and forensic tool for anyone seeking a better understanding of and access to the democratic process."—Arkansas Democrat-Gazette "It makes an extremely strong, and to the reviewer's mind incontrovertible, argument for placing the analysis of planning within the context of power relations. As a result it will also make a significant mark on the development of planning theory."—Geographical Journal "A book that is to be recommended doubly, first to all those engaged in planning and implementation in a democratic context, and also to all those interested in empirical power research. Rationality and Power is rewarding even enthralling reading, a seminal contribution to its field."—European Societies "This book is a must for anyone interested in how planning works . . . a reality shock . . . excellent and illuminating."—International Planning Studies
Download or read book Rationality and Power written by and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
There are many different forms of rationality. In current economic discourse the main focus is on instrumental rationality and optimizing, while organization scholars, behavioural economists and policy scientists focus more on bounded rationality and satisficing. The interplay with value rationality or expressive rationality is mainly discussed in philosophy and sociology, but never in an empirical way. This book shows that not one, but three different forms of rationality (subjective, social and instrumental) determine the final outcomes of strategic decisions executed by major organizations. Based on an argumentation analysis of six high-profile public debates, this book adds nuance to the concept of bounded rationality. The chapters show how it is socially constructed, and thus dependent on shared beliefs or knowledge, institutional context and personal interests. Three double case studies investigating the three rationalities illustrate how decision makers and stakeholders discuss the appropriateness of these rationalities for making decisions in different practice contexts. The first touches more on personal concerns, like wearing a niqab or looking at obscene art exposed in a public environment; the second investigates debates on improving the rights and position of specific minorities; and the third is based on the agreement on instrumental reasons for two kinds of investments, but the cost arguments are regarded less relevant when social norms or personal interests are violated. The Social Construction of Rationality is for those who study political economy, economic psychology and public policy, as well as economic theory and philosophy.
Book Synopsis The Social Construction of Rationality by : Onno Bouwmeester
Download or read book The Social Construction of Rationality written by Onno Bouwmeester and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2017-03-16 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There are many different forms of rationality. In current economic discourse the main focus is on instrumental rationality and optimizing, while organization scholars, behavioural economists and policy scientists focus more on bounded rationality and satisficing. The interplay with value rationality or expressive rationality is mainly discussed in philosophy and sociology, but never in an empirical way. This book shows that not one, but three different forms of rationality (subjective, social and instrumental) determine the final outcomes of strategic decisions executed by major organizations. Based on an argumentation analysis of six high-profile public debates, this book adds nuance to the concept of bounded rationality. The chapters show how it is socially constructed, and thus dependent on shared beliefs or knowledge, institutional context and personal interests. Three double case studies investigating the three rationalities illustrate how decision makers and stakeholders discuss the appropriateness of these rationalities for making decisions in different practice contexts. The first touches more on personal concerns, like wearing a niqab or looking at obscene art exposed in a public environment; the second investigates debates on improving the rights and position of specific minorities; and the third is based on the agreement on instrumental reasons for two kinds of investments, but the cost arguments are regarded less relevant when social norms or personal interests are violated. The Social Construction of Rationality is for those who study political economy, economic psychology and public policy, as well as economic theory and philosophy.
A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 'Punchy, funny and invigorating ... Pinker is the high priest of rationalism' Sunday Times 'If you've ever considered taking drugs to make yourself smarter, read Rationality instead. It's cheaper, more entertaining, and more effective' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding - and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures and conspiracy theorizing? In Rationality, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species - cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book - until now. Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, Rationality will enlighten, inspire and empower. 'A terrific book, much-needed for our time' Peter Singer
Book Synopsis Rationality by : Steven Pinker
Download or read book Rationality written by Steven Pinker and published by Penguin UK. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 'Punchy, funny and invigorating ... Pinker is the high priest of rationalism' Sunday Times 'If you've ever considered taking drugs to make yourself smarter, read Rationality instead. It's cheaper, more entertaining, and more effective' Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding - and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures and conspiracy theorizing? In Rationality, Pinker rejects the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species - cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he explains, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty. These tools are not a standard part of our educational curricula, and have never been presented clearly and entertainingly in a single book - until now. Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, Rationality will enlighten, inspire and empower. 'A terrific book, much-needed for our time' Peter Singer
The author, an anthropologist and novelist, proposes a theory of power and authority with "power" defined as state control over economic resources and "authority" as mere demonstrations of ability to punish. He sees "liberality" of authority over matters of conduct as paradoxically increasing when true state power is secure. He applies the theory to developments in US society over the last 20 years, paying special attention to capital punishment and control of sexual behavior. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Book Synopsis Power and Its Consequences by : Frank Robert Vivelo
Download or read book Power and Its Consequences written by Frank Robert Vivelo and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The author, an anthropologist and novelist, proposes a theory of power and authority with "power" defined as state control over economic resources and "authority" as mere demonstrations of ability to punish. He sees "liberality" of authority over matters of conduct as paradoxically increasing when true state power is secure. He applies the theory to developments in US society over the last 20 years, paying special attention to capital punishment and control of sexual behavior. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Book Synopsis The Power of a People by : Shiao-Yin Kuik
Download or read book The Power of a People written by Shiao-Yin Kuik and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis Power Has a Rationality that Rationality Does Not Know by : Bent Flyvbjerg
Download or read book Power Has a Rationality that Rationality Does Not Know written by Bent Flyvbjerg and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 16 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
This book presents an analysis of organizational wisdom via an embedded single case study of a group's attempt to develop and spread a medical innovation within a Canadian healthcare authority. By offering a unique insight into how values, rationality, and power interact in a real social setting, the book explores how they create positive change.
Book Synopsis Values, Rationality, and Power: Developing Organizational Wisdom by : Brad C. Anderson
Download or read book Values, Rationality, and Power: Developing Organizational Wisdom written by Brad C. Anderson and published by Emerald Group Publishing. This book was released on 2019-10-21 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an analysis of organizational wisdom via an embedded single case study of a group's attempt to develop and spread a medical innovation within a Canadian healthcare authority. By offering a unique insight into how values, rationality, and power interact in a real social setting, the book explores how they create positive change.
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, Utrecht University (School of Governance), course: Implementation between plan and practice, language: English, abstract: This review is on a book on planning with the background not in social sciences but in urban planning and geosciences, it therefore is categorized as a major contribution to planning theory rather than to political theory(see Peattie 2001:252). But sure enough, it would not be object of this analysis if its relevance and tenor were not relevant for policy practitioners. And not only them, since the various contents are also of interest to students and academic personnel of administration and politics, anthropology and sociology and constitute furthermore a meaningful laboratory-like supplement to political philosophy courses. The book itself creates new possibilities for an inspired dialogue between researchers and practitioners. Flyvbjerg sets out to show how power creates its own reality, uses rationality to rationalize its decisions, and strategically switches between political and expert discourses as it needs to in order to get what it wants using the Aalborg Project as a metaphor of comprehensive planning. This scientific book review will not only evolve around the pure contents, sense making and theoretical conceptualization of Flyvbjerg’s Rationality and Power, but will include to implicate input and attempt a comparison with Pressman & Wildavsky’s Implementation and writings by Buchanan & Boddy as well as Siebers.
Book Synopsis Paper on Bent Flyvbjerg's "Rationality and Power" by : Jana Petzka
Download or read book Paper on Bent Flyvbjerg's "Rationality and Power" written by Jana Petzka and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2007-07-12 with total page 21 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, Utrecht University (School of Governance), course: Implementation between plan and practice, language: English, abstract: This review is on a book on planning with the background not in social sciences but in urban planning and geosciences, it therefore is categorized as a major contribution to planning theory rather than to political theory(see Peattie 2001:252). But sure enough, it would not be object of this analysis if its relevance and tenor were not relevant for policy practitioners. And not only them, since the various contents are also of interest to students and academic personnel of administration and politics, anthropology and sociology and constitute furthermore a meaningful laboratory-like supplement to political philosophy courses. The book itself creates new possibilities for an inspired dialogue between researchers and practitioners. Flyvbjerg sets out to show how power creates its own reality, uses rationality to rationalize its decisions, and strategically switches between political and expert discourses as it needs to in order to get what it wants using the Aalborg Project as a metaphor of comprehensive planning. This scientific book review will not only evolve around the pure contents, sense making and theoretical conceptualization of Flyvbjerg’s Rationality and Power, but will include to implicate input and attempt a comparison with Pressman & Wildavsky’s Implementation and writings by Buchanan & Boddy as well as Siebers.
