John R. Commons and Herbert A. Simon on the Concept of Rationality
Author(s)
Forest, Joelle; Mehier, Caroline
Abstract
This article shows that a realistic approach to human nature stresses the non-rationality of behavior. It is also stressed that this non-rationality, or reasonableness, is the core of the theories of decision making as developed by both Simon and Commons. The second section shows that although those theories of decision are central to both Commons’ and Simon’s political economy, because their objectives are different their use of the concept of rationality has different implications. The articles looks at the use-value concept versus the exchange value concept.
