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    Carmelics

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    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Rationalism in economics is defined by the assumption that agents act according to consistent, optimizing rational choice—not by intended outcomes.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
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    • 1.Humans systematically violate consistency axioms (framing effects, preference reversals); calling this 'rational' redefines rationalism into meaninglessness.
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    • 2.Distinguishing process from outcomes creates a gap where agents optimize for wrong goals; the definition becomes disconnected from actual economic welfare.
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    • 3.No empirical test can confirm internal consistency without some reference to outcomes or goals; pure process-focus is circular and unfalsifiable.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Process-focused definitions avoid the pitfall of judging rationality by outcomes, which depend on luck and incomplete information beyond agent control.
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    • 2.Consistency and optimization are observable behavioral patterns; intended outcomes require unverifiable access to subjective mental states.
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    • 3.This definition preserves rationalism's explanatory power while remaining empirically testable through revealed preferences and choice structures.
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