Internalism About Practical Reasons

Abstract

This chapter places Alasdair MacIntyre’s account of practical reasons in the wider context of the contemporary metaethical debate on reasons for action. It explores the key distinction between internalist and externalist views on practical reasons, elaborating Bernard Williams’ discussion of it. I use Williams’ insights to criticize externalism and to defend internalism about reasons for action. The kind of internalism I advocate differs from Williams’ because I believe the latter is grounded in an implausible, idealized conception of practical reasoning. On my account, an agent has a reason to Φ only if she could reach the conclusion to Φ by deliberating to the best of her ability from the motivations she already has. I use these insights to criticize Alasdair MacIntyre’s account of reasons for action for being externalist.