Action, Decision-Making and Forms of Life


Book Description

The book is exceptional because it applies the notion of foms of life to the context of human action. It provides answers to the following questions: Why do we act in a specific way? Why do we make particular decisions? Does one's form of life and language games determine our actions and decisions? Wittgenstein proposes a holistic method which enables us to give coherent answers to these questions. To answer the question of the contents of actions and decisions we have to explain how we have institutionalized these actions or decisions. To this aim we shall reveal the frame within which language games are introduced and have come to function as practice and custom. The scheme of order underlying the language games is illustrated. Human actions and decisions follow particular rules. By highlighting the underlying scheme of order we may gain a perspicuous view of these rules. The aim of this book is to show that actions and decisions generate rational choice. This choice is explained by demonstrating the particular functions of the language games involved.




Thinking, Fast and Slow


Book Description

*Major New York Times Bestseller *More than 2.6 million copies sold *One of The New York Times Book Review's ten best books of the year *Selected by The Wall Street Journal as one of the best nonfiction books of the year *Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient *Daniel Kahneman's work with Amos Tversky is the subject of Michael Lewis's best-selling The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds In his mega bestseller, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman, world-famous psychologist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, takes us on a groundbreaking tour of the mind and explains the two systems that drive the way we think. System 1 is fast, intuitive, and emotional; System 2 is slower, more deliberative, and more logical. The impact of overconfidence on corporate strategies, the difficulties of predicting what will make us happy in the future, the profound effect of cognitive biases on everything from playing the stock market to planning our next vacation—each of these can be understood only by knowing how the two systems shape our judgments and decisions. Engaging the reader in a lively conversation about how we think, Kahneman reveals where we can and cannot trust our intuitions and how we can tap into the benefits of slow thinking. He offers practical and enlightening insights into how choices are made in both our business and our personal lives—and how we can use different techniques to guard against the mental glitches that often get us into trouble. Topping bestseller lists for almost ten years, Thinking, Fast and Slow is a contemporary classic, an essential book that has changed the lives of millions of readers.




A Field Guide to Good Decisions


Book Description

We all face tough choices: business executives, community leaders, and family members all struggle with difficult decisions on a daily basis. What we decide reveals what really matters to us; how we decide determines whether we succeed or fail. Developed over twenty years in settings as diverse as hospital bedsides and corporate boardrooms, A Field Guide to Good Decisions provides the skills to make decisions that reflect your core values while respecting those of others, including the long-term implications for all participants. Illustrated through many real-life examples that will resonate with readers both professionally and personally, A Field Guide to Good Decisions offers practical tools and techniques for identifying individual and common goals, reaching consensus, and communicating the results effectively. The authors also show readers how to overcome common obstacles to good decision-making (psychological, cultural, and organizational). Ultimately, this book is about making decisions which, while not always a matter of life or death, nevertheless have a powerful effect on our sense of self, our credibility in the eyes of others, and the lives of those touched by the choices we make. Decision making is always personal. Each of us makes important decisions at work, in the community, and at home. When we face tough choices, what we decide reveals what really matters to us; how we decide determines whether we succeed or fail. Business executives, community leaders, and family members all struggle with difficult decisions: a senior management team makes an important choice about whether to pursue an acquisition; a baby-boomer decides whether to place an elderly parent in assisted living; a non-profit administrator considers laying off employees to have money and continue serving the community. For each, the steps toward a good decision are the same: know your values, engage others to understand theirs, and communicate with respect and candor. Simple in concept, not so easy in practice—but making a good decision demands nothing less. Developed over twenty years in settings as diverse as hopsital bedsides and corporate boardrooms, A Field Guide to Good Decisions provides the skills to make decisions that reflect your core values while respecting those of others, including the long-term implications for all participants. Illustrated through many real-life examples that will resonate with readers both professionally and personally, A Field Guide to Good Decisions offers practical tools and techniques for identifying individual and common goals, reaching consensus, and communicating the results effectively. The authors also show readers how to overcome common obstacles to good decision-making (psychological, cultural, and organizational). Ultimately, this book is about making decisions which, while not always a matter of life or death, nevertheless have a powerful effect on our sense of self, our credibility in the eyes of others, and the lives of those touched by the choices we make.




The Many Faces of Language Games


Book Description

Wittgenstein used the concept of language games to refer to all forms of linguistic expression in practical contexts and to the myriad ways in which signs are used in language. He used the term to specify speaking as an activity and to relate it to a form of life. Wittgenstein was well aware that his proposal for “language games” did not solve the central problems of language. Until today, the essential characteristics of the concept remain unspecified. The contributors in this volume analyze the reasons for the difficulties in understanding the concept and propose new essential characteristics and contents, by examining language games such as certainty and error, belief, strategy, and their linguistic foundations.




Intentionality and Action


Book Description

The book links the concept of intention to human action. It provides answers to questions like: Why do we act intentionally? Which impact do reasons and motives have on our decisions? Certain events are identified as intentional actions when they are considered as being rationalized by reasons. The linguistic description of such events enables us to reveal the structure of intention. The mental and the linguistic constitute irreducible ways of understanding events. Among the topics discussed are intentionality, actions, the linguistic form to talk about intentionality and actions, Brentano’s view of intentionality, the phenomenological approach to intention and Wittgenstein's proposals. The contributions by Wolfgang Künne, Peter Simons, Christian Bermes, Kevin Mulligan, Severin Schroeder, António Marques, Margit Gaffal, Michel Le Du, Jesús Padilla Gálvez, Bernhard Obsieger and Amir Horowitz show that actions and decisions are guided by intentional considerations.




Decision Making in Action


Book Description

This book describes the new perspective of naturalistic decision making. The point of departure is how people make decisions in complex, time-pressured, ambiguous, and changing environments. The purpose of this book is to present and elaborate on past models developed to explain this type of decision making. The central philosophy of the book is that classical decision theory has been unproductive since it is so heavily grounded in economics and mathematics. The contributors believe there is little to be learned from laboratory studies about how people actually handle difficult and interesting tasks; therefore, the book presents a critique of classical decision theory. The models of naturalistic decision making described by the contributors were derived to explain the behavior of firefighters, business people, jurors, nuclear power plant operators, and command-and-control officers. The models are unique in that they address the way people use experience to frame situations and adopt courses of action. The models explain the strengths of skilled decision makers. Naturalistic decision research requires the examination of field settings, and a section of the book covers methods for conducting meaningful research outside the laboratory. In addition, since his approach has applied value, the book covers issues of training and decision support systems.




The Great Mental Models, Volume 1


Book Description

Discover the essential thinking tools you’ve been missing with The Great Mental Models series by Shane Parrish, New York Times bestselling author and the mind behind the acclaimed Farnam Street blog and “The Knowledge Project” podcast. This first book in the series is your guide to learning the crucial thinking tools nobody ever taught you. Time and time again, great thinkers such as Charlie Munger and Warren Buffett have credited their success to mental models–representations of how something works that can scale onto other fields. Mastering a small number of mental models enables you to rapidly grasp new information, identify patterns others miss, and avoid the common mistakes that hold people back. The Great Mental Models: Volume 1, General Thinking Concepts shows you how making a few tiny changes in the way you think can deliver big results. Drawing on examples from history, business, art, and science, this book details nine of the most versatile, all-purpose mental models you can use right away to improve your decision making and productivity. This book will teach you how to: Avoid blind spots when looking at problems. Find non-obvious solutions. Anticipate and achieve desired outcomes. Play to your strengths, avoid your weaknesses, … and more. The Great Mental Models series demystifies once elusive concepts and illuminates rich knowledge that traditional education overlooks. This series is the most comprehensive and accessible guide on using mental models to better understand our world, solve problems, and gain an advantage.




Values Information from AI


Book Description

Values information from AI is a collection of information and images of values generated from an AI tool as part of The Values We Share Project to promote values. All information in this book can be used to promote values and can be used as material in values formation programs. All information in this book will also be used in The Values We Share Project videos, materials and courses in the future. Visit The Values We Share Project at http://thevaluesweshare.info.




120 Ways To Attract The Right Career Or Business


Book Description

‘120 Ways To Attract The Right Career Or Business – Tried And True Tips And Techniques’ is for: defining your highest values and purpose clarifying your vision and overcoming your challenges building your attraction power, lifetime value and dynamic value securing the right career or business opportunities developing your presence, brand and networks learning, leading and laughing your way to success It includes information for: students, job seekers and career changers freelancers, entrepreneurs and business owners advisers, consultants and thought leaders coaches, trainers and mentors anyone who wants to leverage their skills, knowledge and networks This thorough, practical and detailed guide provides you with the key strategies and techniques, based on your purpose, that you can implement today for your success in the future. Get started and take action now! **Special free bonus offers at http://120ways.com/members Buy the book ‘120 Ways To Attract The Right Career Or Business – Tried and True Tips and Techniques’ here Chapter Outline Preface Introduction 1. It’s All About You 1.1 Personal Responsibility 1.2 Action Steps 1.3 Skills 1.4 Techniques 2. Past and Present Context 2.1 Future Context 2.2 Understanding Yourself 2.3 Letting Go 2.4 Understanding Value 2.5 Understanding Needs 2.6 Sense Of Self 2.7 Sense Of Others 3. Selecting The Right Career Or Business 4. Choosing What To Do Right Now 4.1 Choosing What To Do In The Future 5. Capital Raising 5.1 Social Capital 5.2 Intellectual Capital 5.3 Cultural Capital 5.4 Financial Capital 5.5 Gratitude Or Operating Capital 5.6 Relationship Capital 5.7 Credibility Capital 5.8 Influence Capital 6. Action Steps 6.1 Research And Select Your Locations 6.2 Establish Quality Real Estate 6.3 Review And Verify Your Real Estate 6.4 Select Your Strategic Activity 6.5 Review, Analyze and Improve 6.6 Give Feedback, Follow Up, Say Thank You And Smile 6.7 Celebrate, Acknowledge And Learn 6.8 Decide What To Do Next 7. Career Attraction Tips and Techniques 7.1 Immediate Jobs 7.2 Survival Jobs And Means To An End Jobs 7.3 Aligned Jobs 7.4 Next Step Up Jobs 7.5 Job Identification Techniques 7.6 Job Application Techniques 7.7 Job Application Persistence Techniques 7.8 Job Interview Techniques 7.9 Job Interview Follow Up Techniques 7.10 Accepting A Job Offer 8. Business Attraction Tips And Techniques 8.1 Real Value In Business 8.2 Perceived Value In Business 8.3 Referral Value In Business 8.4 Clarity Value In Business 8.5 Reciprocity Value In Business 8.6 Uncertainty Value In Business 8.7 Pricing Value In Business 8.8 Human Value in Business 8.9 Asset Value In Business 8.10 Investment Value In Business 9. Audience Attraction Techniques 9.1 Identifying Audience Locations 9.2 Arousing Your Target Audience 9.3 Discouraging Your Non Target Audience 9.4 Re-Attracting Your Target Audience 10. Content Attraction Techniques 10.1 Content Guidelines 10.2 Content Conversions 10.3 Content Reach 10.4 Content Sharing 10.5 Content Critics 11. People Attraction Techniques 11.1 People Background Research 11.2 Finding The Right People 11.3 Building The Relationship 11.4 Refining Your People Attraction Techniques 12. Platform Attraction Techniques 12.1 Completing Your Platform Profile 12.2 Maximizing Each Platform 12.3 Measuring Your Platform Performance 12.4 Platform Power Tools 12.5 Game Changers 13. Process Attraction Techniques 13.1 Finding Advertised Opportunities 13.2 Applying For Advertised Opportunities 13.3 Passing the Application Process 13.4 Starting A Career Or Business Opportunity 13.5 Daily Career And Business Strategies 13.6 Education And Learning Based Strategies 13.7 Proactive Action Strategies 13.8 System Based Strategies 14. Possibility Attraction Techniques 14.1 Traditional Possibility Sources 14.2 Contemporary Possibility Sources 14.3 Speculative Possibility Sources 14.4 Ongoing Possibility Sources 15. Brand Development 15.1 Building Your Personal Brand 15.2 Building Your Business Brand 15.3 Personal Brand Builders 15.4 Business Brand Builders 15.5 Publicity Tactics 16. Network Development 16.1 Assessing Networks 16.2 Creating A Network 16.3 How To Network 16.4 Developing Your Network 16.5 Valuing Your Network 17. Website Development 17.1 Personal Career Attraction Website 17.2 Personal Business Attraction Website 17.3 General Website Attraction Techniques 17.4 Website Performance Measures 17.5 User Experience And Website Feedback 18. Overcoming Challenges 18.1 Action Planning Sequence 18.2 Measuring Results 18.3 Personal Blockages 18.4 External Blockages 18.5 Top 20 Tips And Techniques 19. Full List Of 120 Actions 20. Bonuses Index Author




Towards Quality Improvement of Action Research


Book Description

This book offers perspectives and challenges for action research in contemporary society with a particular reflection on ethics and standards. On the one hand the world is becoming smaller and much more open with tremendous opportunities for international exchange and multi-cultural enrichment. On the other hand the divide between the poor and the rich is deepening, international tensions are growing and the sustainability of the environment is under considerable threat on a worldwide basis. These trends are challenging politicians, civil society and social movements to search for problem solving strategies to deal with the risks of exclusion, poverty, social and physical insecurity and environmental deprivation. The intriguing question is what role action research could play in order to address these challenges? Action research has something to offer because it favours the connection between knowledge production and social change by means of partnerships between researchers, practitioners and a variety of client stakeholders. The focus is on providing the means to improve people’s self determination - to empower them in their roles as professional practitioners or citizens in the diverse social domains in which they live and work. Participatory action research and learning processes enable participants to improve the impact of services and programs in education, health care, urban and regional development, business, agriculture, arts, care of the elderly, leisure and many other spheres of social life. The approach of action research, which is rooted among others in the work of John Dewey and Kurt Lewin, covers nowadays a landscape of different concepts such as participatory action research, cooperative inquiry and action learning, to mention just a few. In this book scholars from those divergent concepts of action research present and discuss instructive examples of action research practices from developed as well developing countries. Special attention is paid to the vital issue of how this type of research can be conducted in a participatory, responsible, transparent and scientific way.