Original scientific paper

Epistemic and Instrumental Rationality

Ljudevit Hanžek ; University of Split, Faculty of Philosophy, Split, Croatia

Abstract

Epistemic rationality is the rationality of belief, while instrumental rationality is the rationality of action. If it is possible for a belief to be instrumentally rational (or irrational), the conflict between epistemic rationality and instrumental rationality also seems possible. Incommensurability thesis claims that the described conflict is unsolvable because epistemic rationality and instrumental rationality cannot be meaningfully compared. However, if the reduction of one of these types of rationality to the other can be achieved, the conflict could be resolved (in principle). While the reduction of epistemic rationality to instrumental rationality can seem promising, categorical normativity which characterizes epistemic rationality remains a significant problem.

Keywords

epistemic rationality; instrumental rationality; incommensurability thesis; categorical normativity; hypothetical normativity

Hrčak ID:

100679

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/100679

Publication date:

26.2.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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