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The evolutionary point of view: Rationality is elsewhere

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Commentary onBaronJonathan (1994) Nonconsequentialist decisions. BBS 17:1–42

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Michel Cabanac
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, G1K 7P4Canada. [email protected]

Abstract

Baron has provided some examples of nonconsequentialism in decision making and describes them as biases; these may be the remnants of the biological origin of decision making. One may argue that decisions are made on the basis not of rationality but affective processes. Behavior follows the trend toward maximizing pleasure. This mechanism might explain apparent nonconsequentialism.

Type
Continuing Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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