Single Idea 23733

[catalogued under 20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / a. Practical reason]

Full Idea

There are motivating reasons for action, which are psychological states, and normative reasons, which are propositions of the general form 'a person's doing this is desirable or required'.

Gist of Idea

Motivating reasons are psychological, while normative reasons are external

Source

Michael Smith (The Moral Problem [1994], 4.2)

Book Reference

Smith,Michael: 'The Moral Problem' [Blackwell 1994], p.96


A Reaction

Motivating reasons are locatable entities in minds, whereas normative reasons are either abstract, or perhaps motivating reasons expressed by other people. Smith says the two types are unconnected.