Odd Choices: On the Rationality of Some Alleged Anomalies of Decision and Inference |
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Authors: | Hans Rott |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Philosophy, University of Regensburg, 93040 Regensburg, Germany |
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Abstract: | This paper presents a number of apparent anomalies in rational choice scenarios, and their translation into the logic of everyday
reasoning. Three classes of examples that have been discussed in the context of probabilistic choice since the 1960s (by Debreu,
Tversky and others) are analyzed in a non-probabilistic setting. It is shown how they can at the same time be regarded as
logical problems that concern the drawing of defeasible inferences from a given information base. I argue that initial appearances
notwithstanding, these cases should not be classed as instances of irrationality in choice or reasoning. One way of explaining
away their apparent oddity is to view certain aspects of these examples as making particular options salient. The decision
problems in point can then be solved by ‘picking’ these options, although they could not have been ‘chosen’ in a principled
way, due to ties or incomparabilities with alternative options. |
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