Quotes from book
Reasons and Persons

Reasons and Persons
Derek Parfit

Reasons and Persons is a 1984 book by the philosopher Derek Parfit, in which the author discusses ethics, rationality and personal identity.

Derek Parfit photo

“To think about reality we must use concepts, and certain truths about concepts may reveal, or reflect, truths about reality.”

Derek Parfit book Reasons and Persons

Source: Reasons and Persons (1984), pp. 223-224

Derek Parfit photo

“I sometimes want to kick my car[.] Since I have this anger at material objects, which is manifestly irrational, it’s easier to me to think, when I get angry with people, that this is also irrational.”

Derek Parfit book Reasons and Persons

Source: Derek Parfit, ‘An Interview with Derek Parfit’, Cogito, Vol. 9, No. 2 (August, 1995), p. 118