This paper proffers a dialogical theory of decision-making: decision-makers (DMs) are engaged in two modes of rational decisions, instrumental and existential. Instrumental rational decisions take place when the DM views the self externally to the objects, whether goods or animate beings. Existential rational decisions take place when the DM views the self in union with such objects. While the dialogical theory differs from Max Weber’s distinction between two kinds of rationality, it follows Martin Buber’s philosophical anthropology. The paper expounds the ramifications of the dialogical theory in understanding structures of exchange considering assessments of diverse thinkers.

本文提供了一种决策的对话理论：决策者（DM）参与理性决策的两种模式，即工具性和存在性。当DM从物体的外部看待自我时，就会做出工具性的理性决定，无论是商品还是生命。当DM视自身与此类对象的结合时，就会存在存在的理性决策。尽管对话理论不同于马克斯·韦伯对两种理性的区分，但它遵循了马丁·布伯的哲学人类学。本文阐述了对话理论在考虑各种思想家评估的情况下对交流结构的理解所产生的影响。