Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Reason-Explanation and the Contents of Mind

Tanney, Julia (2005) Reason-Explanation and the Contents of Mind. Ratio, 18 (3). pp. 338-351. ISSN 0034-0006. E-ISSN 1467-9329. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:1240)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.

Abstract

This paper takes a close look at the kinds of considerations we use to reach agreement in our ordinary (non-philosophical, non-theoretical) judgements about a person’s reasons for acting and the following theses are defended. First, considering the circumstances surrounding the action is often enough to remove our puzzlement; second, in those situation when we do enquire into the agent’s state of mind this does not normally lead to investigation of hidden, inner events that are candidate causes of action. Finally, although it sometimes makes sense to advert to mental causes, there are good reasons to see the situations in which we do so as parasitic on the others. This suggests a prima facie problem for most philosophical accounts of what it is to act for reasons and for most philosophical accounts of the nature of mental states. Ratio is a very respectable UK philosophical journal with blind refereeing.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Arts and Humanities > School of Culture and Languages
Depositing User: Maureen Nunn
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 18:49 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:40 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/1240 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Tanney, Julia.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.