The Production of Seriousness : The Metaphysics of Economic Reason

This book is about the roots of managerial rationality. A theoretical base, founded on the concept of 'memetics' is developed in order to explain human thinking and human reason as products of cultural evolution. Cultural change and development are explained by simple, value-driven memetic mechanisms like 'ritualization' and 'extremization'. Economic reason, especially managerial rationality, stands for the trivial inarguable truths in modern society. But where do they come from? Why are the truths of rational logic true? Are they the laws of nature perhaps to be found in the matter of the universe? Are they inscribed into our genes? The answer is 'no'. Reason is culture. The Production of Seriousness argues that capacities initially common to all higher living have developed into a cultural heritage of sophisticated and well articulated ideas about a logic of incontestably true rational choice. The first half of this book sorts out the basic elements in our ideas of rational choice; the second half is directed at the concept of 'culture'. The concept 'meme' is used to show how simple memetic mechanisms irresistibly lead to constant dynamic forces, driving cultural evolution and, thereby, to the formation of modern ideas about absolute and unassailable rational reason Economic reason, especially managerial rationality, stands for the trivial inarguable truths in modern society. But where do they come from? Why are the truths of rational logic true? Are they the laws of nature perhaps to be found in the matter of the universe? Are they inscribed into our genes? The answer is 'no'. Reason is culture. The Production of Seriousness argues that capacities initially common to all higher living have developed into a cultural heritage of sophisticated and well articulated ideas about a logic of incontestably true rational choice. The first half of this book sorts out the basic elements in our ideas of rational choice; the second half is directed at the concept of `cultureþ. The concept `memeþ is used to show how simple memetic mechanisms irresistibly lead to constant dynamic forces, driving cultural evolution and, thereby, to the formation of modern ideas about absolute and unassailable rational reason Front Matter....Pages i-ix Truth and the Self-Evident....Pages 1-15 Practical Reason....Pages 16-49 The Elementary Forms of the Truth Experience....Pages 50-98 The Relativistic Basis of Understanding....Pages 99-125 The Structural Dynamics of Social Thinking....Pages 126-173 The Relativistic Perspective....Pages 174-197 Back Matter....Pages 198-219