%0 Journal Article %1 Moe:1979 %A Moe, Terry M. %D 1979 %J American Journal of Political Science %K epistemology methodology rational-choice theory %N 1 %P 215--243 %T On the Scientific Status of Rational Models %V 23 %X In recent years, rational models have taken on increasing prominence in disciplines outside of economics, particularly in political science. Yet, while most social scientists appear to agree on basic methodological principles--those deriving form the 'positivist' or 'covering law' perspective on scientific explanation--the scientific status of rational models has remained an issue surrounded by ambiguity and, in some cases, open controversy. Straightforward assertions that these 'unrealistic' models are unacceptable are countered by familiar, apparently more sophisticated arguments to the contrary. The purpose of this paper is to clarify matters. The paper singles out the major arguments defending the covering law status of rational models and shows that these arguments are actually unfounded. It then suggests more specifically what covering law criteria do imply for the construction, employment, and evaluation of rational models.

@article{Moe:1979, abstract = {In recent years, rational models have taken on increasing prominence in disciplines outside of economics, particularly in political science. Yet, while most social scientists appear to agree on basic methodological principles--those deriving form the 'positivist' or 'covering law' perspective on scientific explanation--the scientific status of rational models has remained an issue surrounded by ambiguity and, in some cases, open controversy. Straightforward assertions that these 'unrealistic' models are unacceptable are countered by familiar, apparently more sophisticated arguments to the contrary. The purpose of this paper is to clarify matters. The paper singles out the major arguments defending the covering law status of rational models and shows that these arguments are actually unfounded. It then suggests more specifically what covering law criteria do imply for the construction, employment, and evaluation of rational models.}, added-at = {2010-03-02T17:25:53.000+0100}, author = {Moe, Terry M.}, bdsk-file-1 = {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}, bdsk-url-1 = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/info/2110782}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/206f32c5826458f63da73747c2e5c2262/jrennstich}, date-modified = {2010-02-28 21:03:34 -0500}, interhash = {fe459ef783b8979faafa587fa01e5959}, intrahash = {06f32c5826458f63da73747c2e5c2262}, journal = {American Journal of Political Science}, keywords = {epistemology methodology rational-choice theory}, month = {February}, number = 1, pages = {215--243}, timestamp = {2010-03-02T17:28:18.000+0100}, title = {On the Scientific Status of Rational Models}, volume = 23, year = 1979 }