Back to Search Start Over

Correctly responding to reasons while being means‐end incoherent.

Authors :
Schneider, Leonhard
Source :
Ratio; Mar2023, Vol. 36 Issue 1, p64-81, 18p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

This paper argues that Reason Responsiveness (RR) accounts of rationality, proposed for example by Benjamin Kiesewetter and Error Lord, fail to explain structural irrationality (i.e., the irrationality involved in holding incoherent attitudes). Proponents of RR hold that rationality consists in correctly responding to available reasons. Structural irrationality, they argue, is just a "by‐product" of incorrect reason‐responding. Applying this idea to cases of means–end incoherence, this paper shows that RR accounts must rely on a certain transmission principle. Roughly, this amounts to the principle that necessarily, if (1) A has decisive available reason to intend to E and (2) A has decisive available reason to believe that intending to M is necessary for E‐ing, it follows that (3) A has decisive available reason to intend to M. By considering an example, this paper argues that even the most plausible version of this transmission principle does not hold true. It follows that one can correctly respond to one's available reasons while being means–end incoherent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjects

Subjects :
ATTITUDE (Psychology)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00340006
Volume :
36
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Ratio
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
162103980
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/rati.12361