Brown, C. (2013) The composition of reasons. Synthese, (doi: 10.1007/s11229-013-0299-8)
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Abstract
How do reasons combine? How is it that several reasons taken together can have a combined weight which exceeds the weight of any one alone? I propose an answer in mereological terms: reasons combine by composing a further, complex reason of which they are parts. Their combined weight is the weight of their combination. I develop a mereological framework, and use this to investigate some structural views about reasons, the main two being "Atomism" and "Holism". Atomism is the view that atomic reasons are fundamental: all reasons reduce to atomic reasons. Holism is the view that whole reasons are fundamental. I argue for Holism, and against Atomism. I also consider whether reasons might be "context-sensitive".
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Brown, Dr Campbell |
Authors: | Brown, C. |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics |
College/School: | College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Philosophy |
Journal Name: | Synthese |
Publisher: | Springer Netherlands |
ISSN: | 0039-7857 |
ISSN (Online): | 1573-0964 |
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