Alternatives of oneself: Recasting some of our practical problems

This paper argues that there are practical problems of such a kind that nei ther impartial morality nor rational choice theory can provide us with comf ort and guidance in our attempt to make the right choice if confronted with such a problem. It argues that both morality and rational choice theory ar e bound to misconstrue problems of this kind. Appreciating the limits of bo th morality and rational choice theory, as currently discussed in the liter ature (Wolf, Morton, Pettit, Hollis and Sugden), enables us to identify the features of these particular practical problems, and allows us to elaborat e the idea of an alternative of oneself, which is crucial to a proper under standing of the kind of practical problem the paper draws attention to.