Introduction: Basic Concepts, Method, and Summary of Chapters

The questions that motivate this book are “What, ultimately, is there reason to do?” and “On what grounds should any view of ultimate reasons be accepted?” Our deliberations in ordinary life typically presuppose an answer to the first question, and the answer to the second question determines the justification of the first answer. Thus we cannot be indifferent to these questions insofar as we are reflective rational beings. We deliberate about countless matters. Some of these matters are relatively trivial, such as which vacation destination to select; some relatively weighty, such as which career to pursue. Some deliberations aim at decisions that are meant to affect only ourselves; some aim at decisions meant to affect others. Deliberations may be solitary, or they may involve dialogue with others. All deliberations, however, involve thinking about reasons for action.