Brute Rationality
Brute Rationality
Joshua Gert presents a new account of normative practical reasons and the way in which they contribute to the rationality of action. He argues that, rather than simply "counting in favor of" action, normative reasons play two logically distinct roles--that of requiring action and that of justifying action. Gert's book will appeal to a range of readers interested in practical reasoning in particular, and moral theory more generally.
- Provides an account of normative rationality that is fully compatible with a casual theory of action
- Reconciles both sides of the internalism/externalism debate
- Includes discussions of the big figures in contemporary moral theory: Korsgaard, Williams, Scanlon, Raz, Dancy and others
Reviews & endorsements
"It is a great contribution to contemporary philosophical debate and is likely to make an impact."
Philosophy in Review
"Brute Rationality is a very fine book. It is crisply written, laced with wit, and carefully argued.... I recommend Brute Rationality to anyone who is interested in issues of practical rationality and how they bear upon moral theory."
Ethics
"Brute Rationality is a remarkable book. It is elegant and engaging, and it aims to deliver s traightfoward solutions to problems not addressed by other theories of practical rationality. The theory of normative reasons developed in Brute Rationality is both detailed and novel." - Sergio Tenenbaum, University of Toronto
Product details
July 2006Adobe eBook Reader
9780511207631
0 pages
0kg
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Preface and acknowledgements
- 1. What would an adequate theory of rationality be like?
- 2. Practical rationality, morality and purely justificatory reasons
- 3. The criticism from internalism about practical reasons
- 4. A functional role analysis of reasons
- 5. Accounting for our actual normative judgements
- 6. Fitting the view into the contemporary debate
- 7. Two concepts of rationality
- 8. Internalism and different kinds of reasons
- 9. Brute rationality
- References
- Index.
