About this topic
Summary | "Action Theory" as it is used here is the sub-area in the philosophy of action/agency that is concerned chiefly with the foundations of the broader sub-discipline. Central problems include the nature and scope of intentional action and agency, the explanation of action, and our knowledge of our actions. Most of the other problems that fall within the scope of this category at PhilPapers are closely related to such foundational questions. |
Key works | Perhaps the two most influential works that have shaped the current state of action theory are Anscombe 1957 and Davidson 1963. Davidson's essay is the locus classicus for the causal theory of action and for causalism about reason-explanations of actions. Anscombe's book has been influential among proponents of non-causal theories of action and reason-explanation. For a classic defense of the agent-causal perspective, see Chisholm 1966. And for a volitionist perspective, see McCann 1974. Some collections of essays that may help readers get a sense of the major debates in action theory today include Mele 1997, Aguilar & Buckareff 2010, Aguilar & Buckareff 2009, and D'Oro & Sandis 2013. |
Introductions | The following are good places to start to for those looking for guides to the current state of the art in action theory. Mele 2005 Mele 1992 Wilson 2008 |
Show all references
Related categories
Subcategories: See also:
The Nature of Action (1,721 | 409)
Causal Theory of Action (723)
Defining Action (77)
Agent Causation* (276)
The Structure of Action (268)
Identification Theories* (97)
Specific Agentive Phenomena (1,381 | 153)
Collective Action (532)
Intentional Action* (809)
Mental Actions* (292)
Trying (145)
Abilities (88)
Skills (253)
Omissions (121)
Habits (42)
Motivation and Will* (1,991 | 856)
Intentions* (1,798 | 362)
Explanation of Action (458 | 244)
Action Theory, Miscellaneous (762 | 495)
Action Sentences (55)
Consciousness of Action* (247)
Self-Consciousness in Action* (204)
Intentional Action* (809)
Knowledge of Action (70)
Perception and Action* (406)
Attention and Action* (94)
Action Theory, Misc (142)
Intentions (1,798 | 362)
Collective Intentions (158)
Intentional Action (809)
Intentions, Misc (298)
Toxin Puzzle* (36)
Volition* (50)
Moral Responsibility* (2,861 | 536)
Motivation and Will (1,991 | 856)
Free Will* (9,689 | 163)
Compulsion and Addiction (312)
Motivation (204)
The Will (254)
Weakness of Will (259)
Volition (50)
Agency (1,008 | 444)
- Philosophy of Action (28,776)
- Mental Causation (1,220)
Jobs in this area
John N. Findlay Visiting Professor
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Nancy Schaenen Endowed Visiting Scholar of Ethics and Assistant Director of Academic Services
Jobs from PhilJobs
9216 found
Order:
1 filter applied
Material to categorize
|
Off-campus access
Using PhilPapers from home?
Create an account to enable off-campus access through your institution's proxy server. Monitor this page
Be alerted of all new items appearing on this page. Choose how you want to monitor it:
Editorial team
General Editors:
David Bourget (Western Ontario) David Chalmers (ANU, NYU) Area Editors: David Bourget Gwen Bradford Berit Brogaard Margaret Cameron David Chalmers James Chase Rafael De Clercq Ezio Di Nucci Barry Hallen Hans Halvorson Jonathan Ichikawa Michelle Kosch Øystein Linnebo JeeLoo Liu Paul Livingston Brandon Look Manolo Martínez Matthew McGrath Michiru Nagatsu Susana Nuccetelli Giuseppe Primiero Jack Alan Reynolds Darrell P. Rowbottom Aleksandra Samonek Constantine Sandis Howard Sankey Jonathan Schaffer Thomas Senor Robin Smith Daniel Star Jussi Suikkanen Lynne Tirrell Aness Kim Webster Other editors Contact us Learn more about PhilPapers |