Decision Theory

Katie Steele, H. Orri Steffansson

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingEntry for encyclopedia/dictionary

    Abstract

    Decision theory is concerned with the reasoning underlying an agents choices, whether this is a mundane choice between taking the bus or getting a taxi, or a more far-reaching choice about whether to pursue a demanding political career. (Note that agent here stands for an entity, usually an individual person, that is capable of deliberation and action.) Standard thinking is that what an agent does on any given occasion is completely determined by her beliefs and desires/values, but this is not uncontroversial, as will be noted below. In any case, decision theory is as much a theory of beliefs, desires and other relevant attitudes as it is a theory of choice; what matters is how these various attitudes (call them preference attitudes) cohere together.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
    EditorsEdward N. Zalta
    Place of PublicationStanford
    PublisherStanford University
    Pages41 pages
    Volume82
    ISBN (Print)1096-5054
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Publication series

    Name
    NumberWinter 2015

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