Review of Derek Parfit, Reasons and Persons

Abstract

This book review discusses Denek Parfit’s book titled “Reasons and Persons”. The reviewer starts by praising the depth and rigor of Parfit’s arguments and emphasizing the significance of his work in challenging conventional notions of self-interest and personal identity. The review highlights Parfit’s attempt to launch a systematic nonreligious normative ethical theory that overcomes the dominance of self-centered thinking. Parfit’s arguments are situated within a larger philosophical context, tracing their roots back to philosophers such as Hume, Mill, and Sidgwick. The reviewer also points out the influence of Nietzsche and Buddha in Parfit’s thinking. The review explores Parfit’s central thesis that the self is not a fixed entity but rather a series of momentary existences and how this understanding undermines the primacy of self-interest as a moral motivator. The reviewer briefly discusses Parfit’s four-part structure and some of the key arguments presented in each section. Overall, the review provides a detailed overview of Parfit’s work and its potential impact on ethical theory. – AI-generated abstract.