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Reasons for action: making a difference to the security of outcomes.

Authors :
Gunnemyr, Mattias
Touborg, Caroline Torpe
Source :
Philosophical Studies. Jan2023, Vol. 180 Issue 1, p333-362. 30p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

In this paper, we present a new account of teleological reasons, i.e. reasons to perform a particular action because of the outcomes it promotes. Our account gives the desired verdict in a number of difficult cases, including cases of overdetermination and non-threshold cases like Parfit's famous Drops of water. The key to our account is to look more closely at the metaphysics of causation. According to Touborg (The dual nature of causation, 2018), it is a necessary condition for causation that a cause increases the security of its effect. Building on this idea, we suggest, roughly, that you have a teleological reason to act in a certain way when doing so increases the security of some good outcome. This represents a middle way between the proposal that you have a reason to act in a certain way just in case this would cause a good outcome and the proposal that you have a reason to act in a certain way just in case this could cause a good outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00318116
Volume :
180
Issue :
1
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Philosophical Studies
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
161396922
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-022-01869-4