
Contents
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1. The Nature of Rationality 1. The Nature of Rationality
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2. Rationality in Specific Domains 2. Rationality in Specific Domains
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1 Introduction: Aspects of Rationality
Get accessAlfred R. Mele is the William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University. He is the author of 12 books and over 200 articles and an editor of 7 books. He is the past director of two multimillion dollar, interdisciplinary projects: the Big Questions in Free Will project (2010–2013) and the Philosophy and Science of Self-Control project (2014–2017).
Piers Rawling is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at Florida State University. He has wide-ranging interests, and has published papers on decision theory, ethics (with David McNaughton), philosophy of language, various other areas of philosophy, and quantum computing (with Stephen Selesnick). He is co-editor (with Alfred Mele) of The Oxford Handbook of Rationality (2004), and is currently writing a book with David McNaughton on their approach to practical reasons.
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Published:02 September 2009
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Abstract
This article examines the nature of rationality. The domain of rationality is customarily divided into the theoretical and the practical. Whereas theoretical or epistemic rationality is concerned with what it is rational to believe, and sometimes with rational degrees of belief, practical rationality is concerned with what it is rational to do, or intend or desire to do. This article raises some of the main issues relevant to philosophical discussion of the nature of rationality. Discussions of the nature of practical rationality and reason concern norms of choice, and it seems that if such norms are not arbitrary, arguments over what those norms are must ultimately be a theoretical matter. Furthermore, this article explores rationality's role in and relation to other domains of inquiry: psychology, gender, personhood, language, science, economics, law, and evolution.
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