什麼是我們最有理由去做、或者想要去做的事? 做了什麼事、或者想要做什麼事, 我們才是最理性的? 理由由事實所提供, 要求一個人對理由做出恰當的回應, 形成正確的命題態度。理性管理一個人的命題態度, 要求他根據理性原則去持有或放棄某個命題態度, 以維持態度之間的融貫或一致。當一個人掌握了相關的事實時, 他最有理由去做的事, 就是理性會要求他去做的事。若是一個人對相關的事實一無所知, 他最有理由去做的事, 可能對他來說會是一個不理性的行動。理由有規範性, 這似乎是廣被接受的。如果我們能找到一個理由來說明我們為什麼應該遵守理性的要求, 理性就有規範性。但是, 我們有理由要是理性的嗎? 我們為什麼要是理性的? 如果找不到一個理由來解釋我們為什麼要遵守理性原則, 理性是不是就沒有規範性?
本課程將介紹理由、理性的概念, 並討論理由和理性的規範性。

What is the thing that we have the most reason to do or want to do? What do we do or want to do that makes us the most rational? Reasons are provided by facts and require a person to respond appropriately to the reasons and form a correct propositional attitude. Rationally manages a person's propositional attitudes, requiring him to hold or give up a certain propositional attitude according to rational principles in order to maintain coherence or consistency between attitudes. When a person has the relevant facts, what he has the most reason to do is what reason would require him to do. If a person is ignorant of the relevant facts, what he has the best reason to do may appear to him to be an irrational action. The reason is normative, which seems to be widely accepted. Reason has normativity if we can find a reason why we should obey its demands. But, do we have reason to be rational? Why should we be rational? If we cannot find a reason to explain why we should abide by the principles of rationality, does rationality have no normative nature?
This course will introduce the concepts of reasons, rationality, and discuss the normativity of reasons and rationality.

Raz, ‘Explaining Normativity: On Rationality and the Justification of Reasons’ (1999)
Parfit, ‘Rationality and Reasons’ (2001)
Broome, ‘Reasons’ (2004)
Broome, ‘Is Rationality Normative?’ (2007)

Southwood, ‘Vindicating the Normativity of Rationality’ (2008)
Dancy, ‘Reasons and Rationality’ (2012)

Raz, ‘Explaining Normativity: On Rationality and the Justification of Reasons’ (1999)
Parfit, ‘Rationality and Reasons’ (2001)
Broome, ‘Reasons’ (2004)
Broome, ‘Is Rationality Normative?’ (2007)
Southwood, ‘Vindicating the Normativity of Rationality’ (2008)
Dancy, ‘Reasons and Rationality’ (2012)