Bunge vs. Esser - Eine Analyse von Kritik an der Rational-Choice-Theorie

For many years now, MARIO BUNGE has adamantly been criticizing rational choice theory for various reasons. While HARTMUT ESSER, a strong advocate of the theory, stresses its applica-bility and usefulness in any form of social science as well as its basic simplicity, BUNGE and other opponents of “rational choice” consider it to be empty, inapplicable and even pseudoscientific, mainly because of its excessive generality. The objective of this paper is to take a closer look at both an enhanced and modern version of a rational choice model (i.e. ESSER’s) and BUNGE’s criticism of rational choice theory in general. This way, we will be able to judge where BUNGE’s reproaches do apply and where they don’t. It will be shown that BUNGE doesn’t take into account essential parts of the theory whereas in many points his criti-cism is indeed justifiable. This examination will concretize the viewpoint for a short conclud-ing look at whether and how rational choice theory can be useful for science.