It is an important consequence of the generality of reasons that a person (or a court) who gives a reason for a decision is typically committed to that reason on future occasions. If I tell a friend that I give money to Oxfam because it helps provide food to starving children in Africa, it is not at all surprising when my friend then asks me whether I will give money to his own pet charity, which also provides food to starving children in Africa. I may at that point be able to draw a distinction-the two organizations might be different in some other respect, or I might just be out of money-but having given the reason in the first "case," I am at least presumptively committed to following it in subsequent ones.

Unknown, Frederick Schauer - Thinkin…, loc. 325