<p>The answer is <strong>there is no single father of rational choice theory</strong>. The reason is that rational choice theory is not so much a theory but rather a coherent framework (others would call it a paradigm) resting on the key foundations of methodological individualism and instrumental rationality / self interest.</p>

<p>Both of these aspects played important roles in the marginal revolution in the late 19th century. Important names here are, of course, <em>Walras</em>, <em>Jevons</em>, <em>Menger</em> and <em>Marshall</em> although none of them can be regarded single father of Economics in the modern sense.</p>

<p>Some decades later, <em>Robbins</em> (1932, p. 15) famously defined Economics as</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This definition nicely summarizes much of the framework rational choice theory is embedded in. It contains instrumental rationality, in so far as that humans have goals (denoted as preferences) but only limited resources (constraints) and they choose so as to maximize their utility. It also hints at methodological individualism because it places human behaviour at the center of its investigation. Note, however, that Robbins again only summarized a research paradigm that was already well developed. (He says so himself on the same page.)</p>

<p>Still, I guess it is fair to say that rational choice theory as we know it today took off after WW2. Here different names come to mind, depending on which focus you want to have. <em>Arrow/Debreu</em> for general equilibrium theory, von <em>Neumann/Morgenstern</em> if you want to stress expected utility (and game theory). A bit later, <em>Becker</em> is a good choice if you want to stress that rational choice theory is an approach that is driven by its methodology (rational behavior, methodological individualism) and need not investigate an economic topic at all. </p>

<p>But yeah, asking for a single father of rational choice theory would really stress things a bit too far.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-04T23:11:09.047Z
2017-01-04T23:11:09.047Z
eigenvector
<p>I suggest <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem" rel="nofollow noreferrer">John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern</a> as obvious candidates - for the fundation of expected utility. Read the Wikipedia page and the references therein as a start. </p>

<p>EDIT: I think with vNM it got serious, but you can go back even further. The earliest reference that comes to my mind would be Jevons' book "A General Mathematical Theory of Political Economy" from 1862.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-04T19:44:13.217Z
2017-01-04T20:29:28.423Z
2017-01-04T20:29:28.423Z
Bayesian
<p>Whom would you consider to be the father of <strong>rational choice theory</strong>?
My suggestions that would qualify for major publications:
Arrow (1959), Economica
Homans (1961)
Becker (1976)
Sugden (1991), Economic Journal </p>

<p>Plus, would you agree that <strong>inter-temporal choice theory</strong> was derived from rational choice theory? Or vice versa?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-04T19:00:10.880Z
I would say that inter-temporal choice is a more "modern" concept , as a product of behavioral economics
Yorgos
<choice-theory>
Whom would you consider to be the father of rational choice theory?
user3505713
# Whom would you consider to be the father of rational choice theory?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-04)

Whom would you consider to be the father of **rational choice theory**?
My suggestions that would qualify for major publications:
Arrow (1959), Economica
Homans (1961)
Becker (1976)
Sugden (1991), Economic Journal

Plus, would you agree that **inter-temporal choice theory** was derived from rational choice theory? Or vice versa?

**Tags:** choice-theory

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I would say that inter-temporal choice is a more "modern" concept , as a product of behavioral economics  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-01-04. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

The answer is **there is no single father of rational choice theory**. The reason is that rational choice theory is not so much a theory but rather a coherent framework (others would call it a paradigm) resting on the key foundations of methodological individualism and instrumental rationality / self interest.

Both of these aspects played important roles in the marginal revolution in the late 19th century. Important names here are, of course, *Walras*, *Jevons*, *Menger* and *Marshall* although none of them can be regarded single father of Economics in the modern sense.

Some decades later, *Robbins* (1932, p. 15) famously defined Economics as

> the science which studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means which have alternative uses.

This definition nicely summarizes much of the framework rational choice theory is embedded in. It contains instrumental rationality, in so far as that humans have goals (denoted as preferences) but only limited resources (constraints) and they choose so as to maximize their utility. It also hints at methodological individualism because it places human behaviour at the center of its investigation. Note, however, that Robbins again only summarized a research paradigm that was already well developed. (He says so himself on the same page.)

Still, I guess it is fair to say that rational choice theory as we know it today took off after WW2. Here different names come to mind, depending on which focus you want to have. *Arrow/Debreu* for general equilibrium theory, von *Neumann/Morgenstern* if you want to stress expected utility (and game theory). A bit later, *Becker* is a good choice if you want to stress that rational choice theory is an approach that is driven by its methodology (rational behavior, methodological individualism) and need not investigate an economic topic at all.

But yeah, asking for a single father of rational choice theory would really stress things a bit too far.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-01-04. Score: 0

I suggest [John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neumann%E2%80%93Morgenstern_utility_theorem) as obvious candidates - for the fundation of expected utility. Read the Wikipedia page and the references therein as a start.

EDIT: I think with vNM it got serious, but you can go back even further. The earliest reference that comes to my mind would be Jevons' book "A General Mathematical Theory of Political Economy" from 1862.


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