Practical reason

What Dominique Pagani says

Dominique Pagani defines practical reason in contrast to theoretical reason. Theoretical reason deals with things and answers the question "what can I know?". Practical reason concerns our relation to others, that is, morality, law and politics1, and answers the question "what ought I to do?"2. He thus distinguishes it from scientific knowledge. He traces this separation to Rousseau and then to Kant, in whom, in his view, an "unbridgeable abyss" opens between theoretical and practical reason3. He stresses the urgency that belongs to action: one then has to decide, and what counts is no longer theoretical competence but moral competence4. Finally, he places the question "are we free or determined?" within the domain of practical reason and takes it away from theoretical reason5.

1. 1#1.3 Entre crise et guerre : Philosopher ?14 Sept 2015 · 27:35
2. 2#3.6 D'Ulysse à Dédale1 Aug 2017 · 14:40
3. 3#3.6 D'Ulysse à Dédale1 Aug 2017 · 54:33
4. 4#3.6 D'Ulysse à Dédale1 Aug 2017 · 32:24
5. 5La mondanité chez Clouscard - Le monde comme "ruse de la raison"22 Jul 2023 · 18:56

Summary produced automatically from 6 of the passages below, to be reviewed; the numbers link to the moment in the session.