A novel account of direction of fit.

What is it about?

The notion of direction of fit is often used to distinguish between theoretical attitudes (like the belief that it is raining) and practical attitudes (like the desire to purchase an umbrella). This paper highlights an important limitation in the traditional conception of direction of fit and offers an alternative account in its place.

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Why is it important?

The notion of direction of fit is employed in many areas of philosophy, including the philosophy of mind, moral psychology, metaethics and action theory. It also has substantive implications for a number of philosophical debates, such as the debate between Humeans and non-Humeans about moral motivation and the debate between cognitivist and non-cognitivists about practical rationality. Given wide use that is made of the notion, it is worthwhile to get clear on what direction of fit is. This is the question this paper sets out to answer.