Ulysses Unbound: Studies in Rationality, Precommitment, and Constraints

by Jon Elster

This provocative book argues that, very often, people may benefit from being constrained in their options or from being ignorant. The three long essays that constitute this book revise and expand the ideas developed in Jon Elster's classic study Ulysses and the Sirens. It is not simply a new edition of the earlier book though; many of the issues merely touched on before are explored here in much more detail. Elster shows how seemingly disparate examples that limit freedom of action reveal similar patterns, so much so that he proposes a new field of study: constraint theory. The book is written in Elster's characteristically vivid style and will interest professionals and students in philosophy, political science, psychology, and economics.

Genres: Philosophy

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Jon Elster ، born 22 February 1940, Oslo) is a Norwegian social and political theorist who has authored works in the philosophy of social science and rational choice theory. He is also a notable proponent of analytical Marxism, and a critic of neoclassical economics and public choice theory, largely on behavioral and psychological grounds.

In 2016, he was awarded the 22nd Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science for his contributions to political science.

Reviews

[Anthony Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sequel to Ulysses and the Sirens, Ulysses unbound is the better work, the result, no doubt, of more thought. The topic, on self-restriction, is an interesting, even important one, but Elster's "rational choice" psychology, was not quite up to the job. Nor was his resurrection of the ancient dichotomy between reason and the passions. Better perhaps to have adopted a more profoundly social-psychological approach, somewhat in the manner of G H Mead.

I liked Elster's idea of applying the Ulysses-and-the-Sirens model to the arts, but again I was a bit disappointed in the actual execution of the analysis. I haven't closed my mind to Elster, however, and I suspect I shall keep coming back to him. He is not at all a trivial thinker.

[Anderson Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

O objetivo do livro é tratar de pré-compromissos e restrições. Elster considera que há dois tipos de restrições benéficas: a) restrições incidentais: aquelas que beneficiam os agentes que as sofrem, mas que não são escolhidas por eles; b) restrições essenciais: aquelas que o agente impõe a si em nome de um benefício para si mesmo.
O livro tem três capítulos: o primeiro trata das restrições essenciais; o segundo das restrições incidentais; e o terceiro sobre restrições nas artes. A obra teoriza sobre pré-compromisso e racionalidade na escolha de agentes em determinar normas que no futuro diminuirão o escopo de liberdade para escolher. O autor trata dos motivos, das formas, dos benefícios, dos interesses envolvidos em se criar normas que restrinjam oportunidades de escolhas futuras.
Os dois primeiros capítulos são fundamentais para os que se interessam pela relação entre indivíduos e instituições. O primeiro trata do tema de como e por que pessoas se "amarram" por meio de restrições. E o segundo trata de como as Constituições são dispositivos de pré-compromissos e auto-restrição criados por políticos para que eles mesmos se restrinjam e limitem outros de decisões pouco sábias.
Crítica: o livro tem muitas digressões e exemplos em excesso para sustentar o mesmo argumento, falta objetividade em alguns momentos.

[Jose Cardenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfecto en todo el sentido de la palabra, me ha ayudado a moldear nuevas perspectivas en todos los campos, me siento muy afortunado de haber leído esta obra.

[Piers Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book that has helped clarify my thinking. I wish there was a follow up.

[Fabian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid