Some Connections Between Representation, Motivation and Reasoning

Abstract

This work concerns some connections between motivation and representation in practical and theoretical reasoning. A version of the claim that intention involves belief is defended. We find two normative attitudes that stand in the same sort of involvement relation to intention that intention stands in to belief. The first, called moral endorsement, is a moral judgement attitude that is distinct from moral belief, which does not involve intention. The second, called rational commitment, arises when we investigate the prospects for an inferential view of logical connectives such as `\emph{if...then}.' We show that accepting an inference rule is not to be identified with assenting to its instances (or being disposed to), and that the best attempt at developing this suggestion leads to a principle connecting accepting an inference rule with rational commitment.