Reasons
In R. Jay Wallace (ed.) Reason and value: Themes from the moral philosophy of Joseph Raz, Oxford, 2004, pp. 28–55
Abstract
I define two normative senses for the term ‘a reason’, which I distinguish as ‘a pro tanto reason’ and ‘a perfect reason’. I define both in terms of the prior concepts of ought and explain. I then argue that reasons are given too much importance in the philosophy of normativity. In particular, theoretical and practical reasoning is not particularly concerned with reasons. It is not the case that theoretical and practical reasoning lead the reasoner to have beliefs and intentions that she has a reason to have.
