This book is a philosophers' attempt to bring together ideas put forward by economist, sociologist and political theorists. The author begins by exploring the economist's assumption that action is rational if it helps to achieve the agent's goals as efficiently as possible.

Preface; 1. The sovereign artificer; 2. Rational choice; 3. Norms and institutions; 4. The Cunning of Reason I: unintended consequences; 5. Motivation; 6. External and internal reasons; 7. Rational expectations; 8. Maximising and satisficing; 9. The Cunning of Reason II: functions and rules; 10. Reasons and roles; 11. Rationality and understanding; 12. The Cunning of Reason III: self and society; Bibliography; Index.