Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Do Desires, and only Desires, Justify Action? Evaluating a Radical Version of 'Internalism about Reasons'

Objective

'Internalism about reasons' is the theory that we only have reason to do what satisfies our desires or goals. ('Externalism', by contrast, holds that what we have reason to do need not depend on our desires or goals.)

Primary Research Objective: To explore the plausibility and implications of a radical 'austere' version of internalism.

Main Research Questions:
1. What reasons do we have, according to internalism?
2. Does austere internalism imply there are no moral rules?
3. Can internalism account for rational choice?
4. Is internalism a form of nihilism?

The primary research output (and means of achieving the research objectives) will be a book titled 'Austere Reasons'. Towards this goal, the programme will be organised as follows: an initial period of reading and drafting; an intensive period of writing, discussion, and presentation; two short secondments; revisions and rewriting in light of feedback; submission to the press for publication.

Main Objectives:
1. Train the Experienced Researcher in the long-form evaluation of a philosophical theory.
2. Develop the researcher’s transferable skills in research planning, management, and communication.
3. Transfer the researcher’s skills in writing shorter critical papers, and knowledge of evaluative indeterminacy, to the host.
4. Increase collaboration and career opportunities for the host and researcher, and the reintegration of the latter into Europe.
5. Increase public awareness of debates and research concerning reasons.

Main Activities:
1. Present chapter drafts from the book at internal and international venues, and secondments.
2. Publish the book with a major press.
3. Supervisory meetings to critique drafts.
4. Host international speakers for seminars and masterclasses.
5. Supervise PhD students.
6. Hold 'clinics' to assist host members with short papers and the international job market.
7. Publish at least one piece in a general-interest venue.
8. Rewrite the 'reasons' and related Wikipedia pages.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MSCA-IF-EF-RI - RI – Reintegration panel

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2016

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

THE UNIVERSITY OF READING
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 114 015,30
Address
WHITEKNIGHTS CAMPUS WHITEKNIGHTS HOUSE
RG6 6AH Reading
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Berkshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 114 015,30
My booklet 0 0