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Title:: The Objectivity and Determinateness of Moral Reasons: The Epistemological and Ontological Basis of Contractualism

Abstract:: As “agreement of a sort of consideration”, “reason” is a basic normative concept that cannot be reduced to natural facts or properties in contractualism. “Reason” is the basic fact with objectivity and can be used to define other normative concepts which cannot be defined by other concepts. By critiquing the perspective that regards desire as the ultimate basis for reasons, Scanlon argues that reasons by themselves are sufficient to generate corresponding motives for rational agents, without the need for additional desires. He explains the objectivity of reasons by illustrating their optionality, strength, universality, and stability. Because the cognition towards certain reason can be mistaken, Scanlon proposes four stages to find the true reason which lays the foundation for his contractualism. Essentially, as a normative relationship between fact and action, the truth value of reason is determined, and the only method to confirm it is the direct, piecemeal application of the method of reflective equilibrium.