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Acting without reasons

In this paper, I want to challenge some common assumptions in contemporary theories of practical rationality and intentional action. If I am right, the fact that our intentions can be rationalised is widely misunderstood. Normally, it is taken for granted that the role of rationalisations is to show the reasons that the agent had to make up her mind. I will argue against this. I do not object to the idea that acting intentionally is, at least normally, acting for reasons, but I will propose a teleological reading of the expression ‘for reasons.’ On this reading, it is quite possible to act for reasons without having reasons to act. In a similar way, paradigmatic cases of cogent practical reasoning do not require the transference of justification from the premises to the practical conclusion

© Disputatio, 2007, vol. 2 núm. 23, p. 229-246

Universidade de Lisboa

Author: Prades, Josep Lluís
Date: 2007 November
Abstract: In this paper, I want to challenge some common assumptions in contemporary theories of practical rationality and intentional action. If I am right, the fact that our intentions can be rationalised is widely misunderstood. Normally, it is taken for granted that the role of rationalisations is to show the reasons that the agent had to make up her mind. I will argue against this. I do not object to the idea that acting intentionally is, at least normally, acting for reasons, but I will propose a teleological reading of the expression ‘for reasons.’ On this reading, it is quite possible to act for reasons without having reasons to act. In a similar way, paradigmatic cases of cogent practical reasoning do not require the transference of justification from the premises to the practical conclusion
Format: application/pdf
ISSN: 0873-626X
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/10755
Language: eng
Publisher: Universidade de Lisboa
Collection: Reproducció digital del document publicat a: http://www.disputatio.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/023-5.pdf
Articles publicats (D-FS)
Is part of: © Disputatio, 2007, vol. 2 núm. 23, p. 229-246
Rights: Tots els drets reservats
Subject: Intencionalitat (Filosofia)
Intentionality (Philosophy)
Raonament
Reasoning
Title: Acting without reasons
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: DUGiDocs

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