Exclusionary Reasons

Abstract

The paper uses satisfaction conditions to explain the nature of reasons generally, and of second order reasons in particular. It explains the relations between a reason for an action, and a reason for that act to be guided by that reason for it, as well as the relation between a reason for an action and a reason for that act not to be guided by a reason for it (the second being an exclusionary reason). It illustrates the existence of second order reasons by providing examples for some situations in which they are likely to occur.

Keywords: Practical reasons, second order reasons, exclusionary reasons, conflict of reasons, all-things-considered reasons