Reason
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A Reason is an statement that is given to support beliefs, actions, and events.
- AKA: Consideration.
- Context:
- It can range from being an Explanatory Reason to being a Justifying Reason.
- It can range from being a Belief-Supporting Reason to being an Action-Supporting Reason to being an Event-Supporting Reason.
- It can be a part of a Reasoned Argument.
- …
- Example(s):
- Explanatory reasons, such as: “The reason why the sky is blue is because of the way that sunlight interacts with the atmosphere.".
- Normative reasons, such as: a Moral reason.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- a Proposition.
- See: Reasoning Capacity, Reasoning Task, Knowledge, Emotion, Reasoning Capability.
References
2009
- (Raz, 2009) ⇒ Joseph Raz. (2009). “Reasons: Explanatory and Normative.” In: Constantine Sandis (ed.), "New Essays on the Explanation of Action."
- (intro to republication [1]) ‘A reason’ has two meanings: explanatory reasons are facts that contribute to an explanation (of anything explained); normative reasons are facts that favour and guide responses, in one’s emotions, beliefs, actions, etc., to how things are. The two kinds of reasons are connected by their connection to the capacity of Reason, or rationality, and by the normative/explanatory nexus, i.e. by the fact that normative reasons can explain the response that they favour. Normative reasons are — potentially — explanatory reasons, but the explanations they provide are of a special kind that presupposes their normative character. The chapter builds on ideas offered by B. Williams, and criticizes J. Broome’s view of the relations between reasons, explanations, and ‘ought-facts’, offering an alternative explanation of ought-propositions.