Topics in Rational Choice Theory: Altruism, Consequentialism, and

227 Pages·2008·0.86 MB·English

by  William Wojtach

Topics in Rational Choice Theory:
Altruism, Consequentialism, and Identity
by
Sahar Zahida Akhtar
Department of Philosophy
Duke University

Date:_______________________
Approved:

___________________________
Allen Buchanan, co-supervisor

___________________________
Alex Rosenberg, co-supervisor

___________________________
Jesse Prinz

___________________________
Susan Wolf

___________________________
David Wong

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctorate
of Philosophy in the Department of
Philosophy in the Graduate School
of Duke University

2008
ABSTRACT
Topics in Rational Choice Theory:
Altruism, Consequentialism, and Identity
by
Sahar Zahida Akhtar
Department of Philosophy
Duke University

Date:_______________________
Approved:

___________________________
Allen Buchanan, co-supervisor

___________________________
Alex Rosenberg, co-supervisor

___________________________
Jesse Prinz

___________________________
Susan Wolf

___________________________
David Wong

An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Doctorate in Philosophy in the Department of
Philosophy in the Graduate School
of Duke University

2008
Copyright by
Sahar Zahida Akhtar
2008
Abstract

Rational Choice theory includes a broad body of research that attempts to account
for how people act in a variety of contexts, including economic, political and even moral
situations. By proposing, most generally, that individuals rationally pursue their self-
interests regardless of the context, rational choice has had extensive theoretical and
empirical success, on the one hand, and has also faced wide criticism when applied in a
variety of disciplines, on the other hand. While there is disagreement over what the
defining assumptions of rational choice theory are, in this dissertation I focus on three on
which there is widespread agreement. These three features of rational choice theory are:
its assumption of egoism or self-interest as the central motivation of individuals; its
reliance on consequences as part of a comparative decision-making framework; and
finally, its focus on the individual and not on groups as the methodological and normative
unit of analysis.
In correspondence to these three features, my dissertation is divided into three
parts and explores the separate topics of (I) egoism and altruism; (II) consequentialism
and ethical decision-making; and, (III) individualism and group identity. The dissertation
is not an exercise in showing the extensive problems of rational choice theory, although
there are many. The dissertation rather engages these three topics with differing results,
some of which in fact attempts to revitalize rational choice, or at least features of rational
choice. For the part on altruism, my goal is to demonstrate why the central assumption of
egoism in rational choice theory is problematic. More broadly, I argue for a different way
of defining genuine altruistic motivation. A result of my analysis there is that altruism
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appears to be more widespread than has been traditionally assumed and is more amenable
to empirical examination. For my discussion on consequentialism, my aim is to re-
characterize rational choice as a mode of moral decision-making. I argue that the moral
agent is one who frequently compares her particular moral ends in a stable fashion and
for this reason cost-benefit analysis is a fully moral framework, one that encourages the
agent to genuinely care for her ends and values. For the topic of individualism and group
identity, my objective is to show how a previously dismissed topic, once unpacked, is
fully consistent with rational choice theory and ought to be of interest to the rational
choice theorist. I show that if the liberal political theorist, including the rational choice
theorist, is to value group identity, the commitment is only limited to valuing a form of
group identity—particularized identity—that is individualist in character.
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Contents
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………….……..iv

List of Tables……………………………………………………………………….…….ix

List of Figures…………………………………………………………………………….x

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….1

Altruism………………………..………………………………………………...3

Consequentialism……………..………………………………………………….8

Identity……………………………………………………………………….....14

Part I: Rational Choice and Altruism

1.Genuine Altruism: What is it and Does it Exist………………………………………22

1.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………...22

1.2 Standard View of Altruism…………………………………………………26

1.3 Evolutionary Arguments……………………………………………………31

1.4 Problems with Evolutionary Arguments for Genuine Altruism……………40

1.5 Conclusion………………………………………………………………….48

1.6 Appendix 1: Are Feelings and Desires Separate?.........................................51

2. Ultimate or Instrumental Altruism? Who Cares…………………………………….. 64

2.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………...64

2.2 Prior Suitability…………………………………………………………….65

2.3 Central Role of Feelings……………………………………………………67

2.3.1 Reason I………………………………………………………….68

2.3.2 Reason II…………………………………………………………73

2.3.3 Reason III………………………………………………………..87

2.4 Conclusion………………………………………………………………….97
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2.5 Appendix 2: Applications to Rational Choice……………………………...99

2.5.1 New Avenues for Theoretical Research…………………………99

2.5.2 New Avenues for Empirical Research…………………….……108

Part II: Rational Choice and Consequentialism

3. The Structure of Moral Decision-Making……………………………………….…..115

3.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………….….115

3.2 Against General Value………………………………………………….…118

3.3 Mediating Ends in Our Everyday Lives…………………………………...127

3.4 Considering Each of Our Ends…………………………………………….136

3.5 Mediating Our Moral Values……………………………………………...142

3.6 Conclusion………………………………………………………………...148

4. Cost-Benefit Analysis in Ethical Decision-Making………………………………....151

4.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………..151

4.2 Intrinsic Value and Alienation…………………………………………….152

4.3 Comparing Values in Bioethics……………………………………….......161

4.4 Beyond Alienation: Other Costs and Benefits of Using CBA…………….169

4.5 Conclusion………………………………………………………………...175

Part III: Rational Choice and Individualism

5. Liberal Respect for Identity? Only for Particular Ones…………………………….177

5.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………….177

5.2 Identity and Autonomy…………………………………………………...180

5.3 Including Identity in Respect for Persons……………….………………..186

5.4 The Locality of Respect………………………………….……………….189

5.5 Collective vs. Particularized Identity…………………….……………….197

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5.6 Practical Implications of the Debate………………………………….....202

5.7 Conclusion……………………………………………………………….209

Biblography…………………………………………………………….…………….211

Biography………………………………………………………………………….....217
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List of Tables

Table 1………………………………………………………………………………..51

ix
List of Figures

Figure 1……………………………………………………………………………….38

Figure 2……………………………………………………………………………….44

Figure 3……………………………………………………………………………….74

Figure 4……………………………………………………………………………….80

Figure 5……………………………………………………………………………….92

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