Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Rational agents must take the means to their ends

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Rationality permits revising or abandoning ends rather than always taking means to them (Bratman, 'Intention, Plans, and Practical Reason').
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If abandoning an end is always available, the hypothetical imperative yields no determinate requirement to take means.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reason for 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Willing an end does not entail willing all necessary means—agents can coherently will ends while remaining agnostic about which means to pursue (Korsgaard, 'The Normativity of Instrumental Reason').
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.The analyticity claim conflates the normativity of practical reason with a merely descriptive psychological connection between volition and action.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • Taking the means to one's ends is analytic of rational agency
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.