This title introduces and explores historical and contemporary accounts of reasons in ethical action. When we say we act 'for a reason', what do we mean? And what do reasons have to do with being good or bad? Introducing readers to a foundational topic in ethics, this book introduces and explores the answers that have been given to some of these fundamental philosophical questions. Eric Wiland here considers the ethical reasoning that lies behind our actions. The book lays out and critically reviews some of the most popular answers given in the history of philosophy, from perspectives ranging from psychologism through value theory to primitivism. From here, Wiland goes on to consider contemporary constitutivist theories of reasons and explores how this approach can shed new light on the nature of irrational action and vice. Reasons also includes chapter summaries and guides to further reading to help readers mastery this important question in contemporary writing in ethics and the philosophy of action. "Continuum Ethics" is a series of books written to help students explore, engage with and master key topics in contemporary ethics and moral philosophy.

We often rely on others for guidance about what to do. But wouldn't it be better to rely instead on only your own solo judgment? Deferring to others about moral matters, after all, can seem to conflict what Enlightenment demands. In Guided by Voices, however, Eric Wiland argues that there is nothing especially bad about relying on others in forming your moral views. You may rely on others for forming your moral views, just as you can your views about anything else. You can accept moral testimony without loss. Furthermore, there are several distinctive social goods attainable by being guided by what others say. Thus, it can be better to be guided by moral testimony than by your own moral lights. Wiland also argues that relying on others for moral advice has one advantage over relying on others for moral testimony. For when you trust your adviser's advice, you both thereby form a joint agent that can achieve autonomy, moral understanding, and morally worthy action. Sometimes taking another's advice is your only way to act well. Arguing against the presumption that moral reasoning is ideally done alone, Guided by Voices is the first book to address moral testimony and advice.