Book section
What is it to be a rational agent?
- Abstract:
- What is it to be a rational agent? The orthodox answer to this question can be summarized by a slogan: Rationality is a matter of recognizing and responding to reasons. But is the orthodoxy correct? In this chapter, I explore an alternative way of thinking about what it is to be a rational agent according to which a central activity of rational agency is the creation of reasons. I explain how the idea of metaphysical grounding can help make sense of the idea that as rational agents, we can, quite literally, create reasons. I end by suggesting a reason to take this alternative view of rational agency seriously. The orthodoxy faces a challenge: How do rational agents make choices within ‘well-formed choice situations’? By allowing that we have the normative power to create reasons, we have a satisfying and attractive solution to this question.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
Actions
Authors
Contributors
+ Chang, R
- Institution:
- University of Oxford
- Division:
- SSD
- Department:
- Law
- Sub department:
- Law Faculty
- Oxford college:
- University College
- Role:
- Editor
+ Sylvan, K
- Role:
- Editor
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Pages:
- 95-109
- Series:
- The Routledge Handbook of Practical Reason
- Place of publication:
- London
- Publication date:
- 2020-12-30
- Acceptance date:
- 2020-09-01
- DOI:
- EISBN:
- 9780429266768
- ISBN:
- 9781138195929
- Language:
-
English
- Pubs id:
-
1131317
- Local pid:
-
pubs:1131317
- Deposit date:
-
2020-09-09
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Ruth Chang
- Copyright date:
- 2021
- Rights statement:
- © 2021 selection and editorial matter, Ruth Chang and Kurt Sylvan; individual chapters, the contributors.
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