The Forest of Reasons
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Description
As business decisions and actions spill over into society in ways that arouse our concern, it is useful to explore how philosophy might offer an alternative perspective to consequentialism. This chapter reviews the conventional approach and the risks of “maximizing.” It submits that the narrowly consequential approach provides us with practical reasons for action but neglects normative or moral reasoning. Reasons for doing might be based on rational choice, but reasons for being (existential reasons) and feeling (sentimental reasons) are guided by moral choice. That these last two may not be “commensurable” does not make them less important. Treating everything as tradable with everything else may be bad for the soul and society. We have moral reasons to feel and to be certain ways, as well as to do certain things. It is time to pay greater heed to Jim March’s long-standing challenge to consequentialist decision theories.
Source Publication
Capitalism Beyond Mutuality?: Perspective Integrating Philosophy and Social Science
Source Editors/Authors
Subramanian Rangan
Publication Date
2018
Recommended Citation
Appiah, Kwame Anthony, "The Forest of Reasons" (2018). Faculty Chapters. 98.
https://gretchen.law.nyu.edu/fac-chapt/98
