ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to add rich descriptions to the currently overly theoretical debate on social rationality, by studying the social aspects of rational decision-making in practice, as suggested by Gigerenzer. It contributes to mapping the concept of social rationality as ranging from more local to more general social values, including value interactions. The chapter shows interactions like mutual value tolerance or opposition, and value prioritization. It contributes to our understanding of rationality conceptualized more generally, by mapping in more detail mutual critical and supportive interactions between social and instrumental rationality or social and expressive rationality. The chapter selects two public debates based on theoretical sampling, in which social rationality is expected to have a central position. The first case is a critical debate about the development of multicultural integration policies in the Netherlands, where proponents argue for stricter policies. The second debate is on settlement and pension rights of Gurkha veterans that have served in the British army.
