Practical Reasons before Kant (1720-1780)

• Applicant: Dr. Sonja Schierbaum
• Subject Area: History of Philosophy
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 417359636

The project aims at contributing to a fundamental discussion concerning practical reasons in ethics, by means of focusing on a historical debate. At the same time, its goal is to interpret a historical debate in light of a contemporary discussion. Questions concern three levels. 1. The normative level: When does an agent has a reason to do something? 2. The level of (moral motivation): How do practical reasons motivate? 3. The metaphysical level of the source of normativity: How is the normativity of practical reasons grounded? By looking at „pre-Kantian“ theories, it is not only possible to avoid difficulties inherent in contemporary conceptions (internalism/externalism), but also to make explicit the relations between the three levels. These relations are often neglected due to the growing differentiation in academic philosophy.

• DFG Programme: Independent Junior Research Groups