Practical Reality is about the relation between the reason why we do things and the reasons why we should. It maintains that current philosophical orthodoxy bowdlerizes this relation, making it impossible to understand how anyone can act for a good reason. In order to understand this, Dancy claims, we have to abandon current conceptions of the reasons why we act (our 'motivating' reasons) as mental states of ourselves. Belief/desire explanations of action, or purely cognitive accounts in terms of beliefs alone, drive too great a wedge between the normative and the motivational. Instead, we have to understand a motivating reason as the sort of thing that could be a good reason: for instance, that the eggs are ready - this, rather than my believing that they are ready, must be my reason for taking them off the cooker. Most contemporary philosophers think that this view cannot be true. Dancy aims to demonstrate that things can be as he thinks they must be. By giving a fresh account of values and reasons, he finds a place for normativity in philosophy of mind and action, and strengthens the connection between these areas and ethics.

About the Author
Jonathan Dancy is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Reading.

Reviews
... occupational scientists or researchers could use the perspectives within the book to contribute to an in-depth and informed discussion on the importance of identifying and addressing issues related to reasons for action, and more specifically, motivation. * Journal of Occupational Science *
... a very thorough discussion on differing, opposing, and complimentary constructions of reasons for action. * Journal of Occupational Science *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199253050
Author Jonathan Dancy
Format Paperback
Page Count 200
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 264g
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 138mm * 12mm