Work

“Adding Up” Reasons: Lessons for Reductive and Nonreductive Approaches

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: How do multiple reasons combine to support a conclusion about what to do or believe? This question raises two challenges: (1) How can we represent the strength of a reason? (2) How do the strengths of multiple reasons combine? Analogous challenges about confirmation have been answered using probabilistic tools. Can reductive and nonreductive theories of reasons use these tools to answer their challenges? Yes, or more exactly: reductive theories can answer both challenges. Nonreductive theories, with the help of a (new?) result in confirmation theory, can answer one, and there are grounds for optimism that they can answer the other.

Source: Ethics

DOI: 10.1086/715288

Author: Shyam Nair

Institutions: University of Southern California, University of Arizona, University of Nottingham, Lingnan University, National University of Singapore, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Arizona State University, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Philosophical Ethics and Theory

Subfield: Philosophy

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W3200872117

FWCI: 56.38

Cites: 39

Cited by: 71

Related to: 10