The logic of economizing action: Universal form and particular practice

This chapter explains that economizing action provides a universal form for pursuing social theorizing in a substantive manner. That people seek to replace options they value less highly with options they value more highly is a universal quality of human action. In only a subset of those actions, however, is there a direct connection between the action and the experienced outcome. The remaining actions are what Vilfredo Pareto described as non-logical actions, as illustrated by ideological sentiments of various sorts. Such non-logical action, however, has regularity about it and is subject to scientific examination.