The Mathematics of Collective Action by James Coleman PAPERBACK 9780202307909

Name: The Mathematics of Collective Action by James Coleman PAPERBACK 9780202307909
Brand: Taylor & Francis Inc

Taylor & Francis Inc

Philosophers, social scientists, and laymen have used two perspectives in analyzing social action > \nPhilosophers, social scientists, and laymen have used two perspectives in analyzing social action. One sees man's action as the result of causal forces, and the other sees action as purposive and goal directed. Mathematical treatment of social action has shown this same dichotomy. Some models of behavior describe a causal process, in which there is no place for intention or purpose. Most stochastic models of behavior, whether individual or group, are like this. Another body of work, however, employs purpose, anticipation of some future state, and action designed to maximize the proximity to some goal. Classical microeconomic theory, statistical decision theory, and game theory exemplify this direction.This book examines these two directions of work, and makes original contributions to the second. An introductory chapter outlines these two bodies of work, and casts them in a commonx