THE AUTHORITY OF INSTRUMENTAL REASON

David Schmidtz, University of Arizona (II-A)

I will argue that the following is a valid argument. (That is to say, it is not possible to construct a case in which the premises are true but the conclusion is false.)

1. As it happens, I have an end E.

2. As it happens, I believe course of action A would serve my end E.

3. Therefore, I have defeasible reason to do A.

I also will argue that the argument does not purchase its validity at the price of vacuity. On the contrary, the argument has interesting implications regarding the conditions under which practical reason has normative authority. Indeed, given additional empirical premises about the nature of human psychology, it can have surprisingly interesting implications regarding the question of how a human being ought to live.