What is instrumental reason?

Often our reason for doing something is an “instrumental reason”: that doing that is a means to doing something else that we have reason to do.

What is instrumental reason in sociology?

In philosophy instrumental rationality refers to the pursuit of a particular end goal, by any means necessary. Instrumental rationality is all about making decisions that maximize efficiency. Some very important philosophers and social scientists have written about the consequences of rationality for modern society.

What is an instrumental reason in philosophy?

In general terms, instrumental reason is a specific form of rationality which focuses on effective means to an end and not, as other forms of practical rationality do, on improving living conditions, promoting reasonable agreement, or human understanding.

What is instrumental justification?

Something is instrumentally rational with respect to given goals, ends, desires, and utilities when it is causally effective in realizing or satisfying these. Even for cognitive goals such as believing the truth, we seem to have only an instrumental justification.

What has instrumental value?

Things are deemed to have instrumental value if they help one achieve a particular end; intrinsic values, by contrast, are understood to be desirable in and of themselves. A tool or appliance, such as a hammer or washing machine, has instrumental value because it helps you pound in a nail or cleans your clothes.

What are instrumental norms?

Instrumental norms, specifying how to accomplish a practical task, pervade the lives of adults and children.

What is instrumental critical theory?

Critique of instrumental reason. Critical theorists argue that in the ancient world the concept of ‘reason’ was an objective and normative one. Reason becomes subjective, formal and instrumental. The historical process by which reason is instrumentalized is in some sense inevitable and irreversible.

What is an example of instrumental good?

What is an example of an instrumental value? Examples of instrumental values include being polite, obedient, and self-controlled. Examples of terminal values include family security, national security, and salvation.

What are instrumental benefits?

These benefits fall into three major categories: improved academic performance and test scores; improved basic skills, such as reading and mathematical skills and the capacity for creative thinking; and improved attitudes and skills that promote the learning process itself, particularly the ability to learn how to …

What is instrumental theory in CSR?

Instrumental theories, in which the corporation is seen merely as an instrument of wealth creation, and its social activities as a means to achieve economic results. This group of theories includes: Maximization of shareholder value as the supreme criterion for evaluating specific corporate social activities.

Are epistemic reasons instrumental?

According to one popular account, epistemic rationality is a species of instrumental rationality: a belief is epistemically rational when (and because) holding it is instrumentally rational given one’s cognitive or epistemic goals; and one has an epistemic reason to believe something when (and because) doing so would be instrumentally

What does instrumental rationality mean?

Instrumental-rationality definitions (critical theory) A specific form of rationality focusing on the most efficient or cost-effective means to achieve a specific end, but not in itself reflecting on the value of that end.

What is instrumental rational action?

“Instrumental” and “value-rational action” are terms scholars use to identify two kinds of behavior that humans can engage in. Scholars call using means that “work” as tools, instrumental action, and pursuing ends that are “right” as legitimate ends, value-rational action.

What does instrumental action mean?

Instrumental action is a social action pursued after evaluating its consequences and consideration of the various means to achieve it. They are usually planned and taken after considering costs and consequences. An example would be most economic transactions of Homo economicus.