Reasons, impossibility and efficient steps: reply to Heuer

Streumer, B. (2010) Reasons, impossibility and efficient steps: reply to Heuer. Philosophical Studies, 151 (1). pp. 79-86. ISSN 1573-0883 doi: 10.1007/s11098-009-9422-6

Abstract/Summary

Ulrike Heuer argues that there can be a reason for a person to perform an action that this person cannot perform, as long as this person can take efficient steps towards performing this action. In this reply, I first argue that Heuer’s examples fail to undermine my claim that there cannot be a reason for a person to perform an action if it is impossible that this person will perform this action. I then argue that, on a plausible interpretation of what ‘efficient steps’ are, Heuer’s claim is consistent with my claim. I end by showing that Heuer fails to undermine the arguments I gave for my claim.