ABSTRACT
The capacity for self-conscious reasoning is central to our higher mental capacities. In the practical domain, we reason more or less explicitly about what to do and how to do it. And we typically aim to act in light of the reasons that guide such deliberations. Those are the reasons we cite in our attempts to make ourselves intelligible to others and to justify our actions. But what exactly is a reason? And are there different types of reasons? If so, what characterises each type? And how, if at all, are the different types of reason connected? Philosophers have developed different accounts of reasons and, accordingly, different answers to these questions. This chapter provides an overview of the main accounts and responses, highlighting connections and disagreements among them.
