Instrumental Rationality between Naturalism, Normativity and Internalism

Journal title PARADIGMI
Author/s Antonio Rainone
Publishing Year 2015 Issue 2014/3 Language Italian
Pages 17 P. 159-175 File size 81 KB
DOI 10.3280/PARA2014-003011
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The aim of the paper is to advance arguments in favor of the thesis that instrumental rationality is in fact the only form of practical rationality, at work even in those cases in which it seems that human actions are not means to achieve certain ends or to meet certain desires. In this context a crucial role is attributed both to the natural origins and normative aspects of instrumental rationality and means-end reasoning. Particular attention is devoted to the so-called desire-belief model - although subject to significant constraints and additions - which in the analytic action theory has become a nearly universal model of practical rationality in general. The holistic structure of practical reasoning and internalism that this structure involves are finally here considered as both the basic features of human action and the best evidence to support the view that human behavior (including ethical and deontic behavior) is basically instrumental.

Keywords: Desire-belief model, internalism, naturalism, normativity, means-end reasoning, instrumental rationality.

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Antonio Rainone, Razionalità strumentale tra naturalismo, normatività e internalismo in "PARADIGMI" 3/2014, pp 159-175, DOI: 10.3280/PARA2014-003011