Abstract

Argues that motivating reasons are not mental states of the agent but states of affairs. The main argument for this appeals to the normative realism established earlier. Since a reason to act is a state of affairs, the reasons in the light of which we act must also be capable of being states of affairs, for otherwise it would be impossible to act for a good reason. Our reasons are what we believe rather than that we so believe, or our so believing. I also consider and reject the view that our motivating reasons are the contents of our beliefs; in this context, I argue that a good reason cannot be a proposition.