ABSTRACT
The descriptive diagnosis of the motivational problems for individual agents that emerged from Part II has twofold relevance. First, agents need capabilities for dealing effectively with these hurdles. This chapter identifies, therefore, capabilities of practical reasoning and judgement, capabilities of social coordination and recognition, and capabilities of the will, which agents ought to take some responsibility for developing. Second, and following on from the discussion about institutions in Chapter 2, the institutional support that is needed for the development of the agential capabilities is explored. The institutional strategies considered are the provision of public information in order to facilitate sustainable action, nudging strategies that steer agents’ behaviour while remaining independent from the individual’s motivation, and moral education as a means to build the capabilities of agents. However, even when the agential capabilities are in place and the relevant institutional policies implemented, taking sustainable action may remain difficult, especially in a context with multiple stakeholders. The obstacle that occurs here is severe inaction or stalemate. In response, a “second-order commitment” is formulated that could help in coping with this hurdle.
