Practical Shape: A Theory of Practical Reasoning
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Author Description
Everyone Allows That We Can Reason To A New Belief From Beliefs That We Already Have. Aristotle Thought That We Could Also Reason From Beliefs To Action. Practical Shape: A Theory Of Practical Reasoning Establishes This Possibility Of Reasoning To Action, In A Way That Allows Also For Reasoning To Intention, Hope, Fear, And Doubt. While Many Philosophers Have Found Little Sense In Aristotle's Claim, Dancy Offers A General Theory Of Reasoning That Is Sensitive To Current Debates But Still Aristotelian In Spirit. The Text Clearly Sets Out The Similarities Between Reasoning To Action And Reasoning To Belief, Which Are Far More Striking Than Any Dissimilarities. Its Detailed Account Of Practical Reasoning, A Topic Inadequately Covered In Current Literature, Is Presented In Such A Way As To Be Intelligible To A Variety Of Readers, Making It An Ideal Resource For Students Of Philosophy But Also Of Interest To Academics In Related Disciplines.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the possibility of reasoning from beliefs to actions, intentions, and emotional states, challenging the common philosophical skepticism surrounding Aristotle's claims on practical reasoning. Jonathan Dancy, a prominent philosopher, draws upon historical Aristotelian frameworks and contemporary debates to construct a unified theory of reasoning. He argues that the structural similarities between theoretical reasoning—moving from belief to belief—and practical reasoning—moving from belief to action—are significant and often overlooked. The text provides a systematic account intended to bridge the gap between abstract logic and human agency.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A comparative analysis of theoretical versus practical reasoning frameworks.
- A theoretical model for reasoning toward intentions, hopes, fears, and doubts.
- An exploration of the Aristotelian concept of practical syllogisms.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide an exhaustive historical survey of all post-Aristotelian theories of action.
- It does not focus on empirical psychological studies of decision-making, remaining primarily within the domain of analytic philosophy.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the philosophy of action, particularly for its clear articulation of practical reasoning mechanisms. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, though they appreciate its accessibility for students and scholars alike.
Page Count:
160
Publication Date:
2018-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192528017
ISBN-13:
9780192528018
Philosophy
Logic
Ethics
Practical Reasoning
