Abstract: The book offers a penetrating examination of a set of fundamental questions about human thought and action. In these essays, Joseph Raz examines the nature of normativity, reason, and the will; the justification of reason; and the objectivity of value. He argues for the centrality, but also demonstrates the limits of reason in action and belief. He suggests that our life is most truly our own when our various emotions, hopes, desires, intentions, and actions are guided by reason. He explores the universality of value and of principles of reason on one side and their dependence on social practices on the other side, and their susceptibility to change and improvement. He concludes with an illuminating explanation of self-interest and its relation to impersonal values, in general, and to morality, in particular.

Keywords: action, agency, ethics, moral philosophy, morality, normativity, objectivity of value, Joseph Raz, reason, self-interest, the will, universality, value