REASON IN EMOTIONS OR EMOTIONS IN REASON

The four articles on rationality and emotions are examined here from a n emotions perspective. Economists Frank and Hirshleifer view emotions as often facilitating self-interested rational choice. From a Weberia n social action perspective, rational choice is so thoroughly imbued w ith emotion that emotion plays more than a supporting role in the so-c alled rational determination of action. Sociologists Collins and Jasso concede at the outset the fundamental importance of emotion in ration al action. Collins argues that emotion is the fundamental utility soug ht in all social action but appears, like many who have offered simila r arguments, to risk tautology. Jasso locates emotion centrally in her theory of social comparisons and rational choice and thereby affords an opportunity to extend her examination of the emotions that can resu lt from varying outcomes and comparisons.