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Practical Reasoning and Rationality

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shehan_michael.pdf (276.18 KB)

Date

2009-04-30T19:28:16Z

Authors

Shehan, Michael

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Publisher

University of Waterloo

Abstract

Theories of practical reasoning and rationality have been expounded at least as far back as the Greeks. Beginning with several historical perspectives, I attempt to answer the descriptive and normative questions of practical reasoning and rationality. I then turn to a popular modern attempt, expected utility theory. I conclude that this approach cannot be sustained because of inherent inconsistencies and its inability to generate advice for a class of problems that other decision procedures can handle. I conclude by offering support for a new model of practical reasoning, the practical argument model. I explain the three dimensions of normative assessment for this model: logical, inferential and epistemic. I then show how an expected utility decision-procedure is encompassed by the practical argument model and, therefore, subject to these three levels of assessment. I conclude by offering some directions for future research.

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Keywords

rationality, practical reasoning

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URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10012/4367

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Philosophy