Derek Parfit’s Reasons and Persons

<p>Derek Parfit (1942–2017) is widely considered to be one of the most important moral philosophers of the twentieth century. <i>Reasons and Persons</i> is arguably the most influential of the two books published in his lifetime and hailed as a classic work of ethics and personal identity. </p><p><em>Derek Parfit’s </em>Reasons and Persons<em>: An Introduction and Critical Inquiry</em> is an outstanding introduction to and assessment of Parfit’s book with chapters by leading scholars of ethics metaphysics and of Parfit’s work.</p><p>Part I provides a much-needed introduction to key topics and themes in<i> Reasons and Persons</i> that will be useful for those new to Parfit’s complex work. These include Parfit’s idea of self-defeating theories rationality and time personal identity future generations and well-being.</p><p>Part II explores various debates generated by <i>Reasons and Persons</i> including its connections with Buddhism metaethics theory of rationality transformative choices and further developments in personal identity and metaphysics such as conativism.</p><p>Combining clear exposition of the major topics and arguments in <i>Reasons and Persons</i> with scholarly perspectives on more advanced themes this book is ideal for students of ethics metaethics metaphysics and anyone interested in Derek Parfit’s philosophy.</p>