Reasoning, Rationality, and (In)Coherence

ABSTRACT Although much ink has been spilled in discussing the relationship between rationality and normative reasons on the one hand and normative reasons and reasoning on the other, surprisingly little has been said about whether we can understand rationality in terms of reasoning. I propose a novel way to understand structural rationality in terms of good reasoning. I argue that structural rationality is best understood in terms of adherence to what I label indefeasible good reasoning. I then offer the beginnings of a theory of substantive rationality in terms of defeasible reasoning. I show how this can provide a unified account of structural and substantive dimensions of rationality, and show that my view also gives the right verdict in some challenging cases for other prominent theories.