Reasons Internalism and the Problem of Depression

Utilitas 33 (1):1-16 (2021)
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Abstract

This article looks at a version of the “too-few-reasons” problem for reasons internalism stemming from the existence of cases of clinical depression. People with clinical depression lack motivation to do things like go to work or seek treatment for their depression. Internalism appears committed to saying that such people lack reasons to do these things since internalism makes having reasons depend on having motivations. But, intuitively, depressed people do have reasons to do them. This article considers a number of possible solutions to this problem, such as that depressed people have actual or ideal desires which explain their reasons, and argues that these solutions do not succeed.

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References found in this work

Internal and External Reasons.Bernard Williams - 1979 - In Ross Harrison (ed.), Rational action: studies in philosophy and social science. New York: Cambridge University Press. pp. 101-113.
Impartial Reason.Stephen L. Darwall - 1983 - Ethics 96 (3):604-619.
A Theory of the Good and the Right.Richard B. Brandt - 1979 - Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie 44 (1):181-182.
A Theory of the Good and the Right.Richard B. Brandt - 1979 - Philosophy 55 (213):412-414.

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