Rational Powers in Action

Rational Powers in Action is a major contribution not only to philosophy but to economic theory as well. It presents many issues in a new light, and that is no mean achievement. * David Gordon, Philosophical Quarterly *
Tenenbaum's Rational Power in Action is a tour de force. With its fresh, exciting, and insightful arguments, it promises to shift the conceptual foundations of action theory away from momentary actions and choices toward thinking of those in an extended way. Theories of action or instrumental rationality must now engage this landmark work or risk obsolescence. * Nathan Howard, Ethics *
Sergio Tenenbaum's Rational Powers in Action presents a new theory of instrumental rationality . . . Tenenbaum writes in a breezy and engaging style, and the book does a good job of putting forward his theory as an attractive candidate * Seamus Bradley, Economics and Philosophy *
In his excellent new book, Rational Powers in Action . . . Sergio Tenenbaum develops a theory of instrumental rationality which goes fundamentally against the dominant approaches in the contemporary debate. . . . [a] great variety and wealth of discussions the book offers, and I very much recommend anyone interested in the topic of instrumental rationality to read it. * Erasmus Mayr, Mind *
Theories of instrumental rationality provide, roughly speaking, evaluations and imperatives regarding choice or action that figure as relative to certain basic given attitudes or stances of the agent. Such theories often abstract away from the fact that actions are generally temporally extended and from crucial complications associated with this fact. Sergio Tenenbaum's Rational Powers in Action (2020) reveals and navigates these complications with great acuity, ultimately providing a powerful revisionary picture of instrumental rationality that highlights the extremely limited nature of the standard picture (which focuses on the selection of momentary acts, chosen and effected—in auspicious cases wherein they are not blocked—at a choice point) * Chrisoula Andreou, Philosophical Inquiries *
In his excellent book, Rational Powers in Action: Instrumental Rationality and Extended Agency, Sergio Tenenbaum lays out a highly ambitious, original, and powerful theory of instrumental rationality, which he calls the “extended theory of instrumental rationality” * John Brunero, Philosophical Inquiries *
Rational Powers in Action is a brilliant book. It is an extensive, resourceful, enjoyably-written articulation and defense of a genuinely new theory of instrumental rationality. It seeks to overthrow the tyranny of orthodox decision theory, understood as a theory of instrumental rationality, but it does so from within a profound grasp of that tradition. Further, the book takes aim at the relatively widespread view that “future-directed intentions” are attitudes governed by distinctive rational norms of non-reconsideration and persistence. Those who are inclined to continue holding these views—like myself, in the latter case—will have to contend going forward with Tenenbaum's powerful arguments against them. * Sarah Paul, Philosophical Inquiries *
Sergio Tenenbaum's excellent new book Rational Powers in Action raises a powerful challenge to mainstream theories of instrumental rationality. * Erasmus Mayr, Philosophical Inquiries *